A routine traffic stop on State Highway 114 in Southlake turned into a life-or-death scramble last night when a police officer pulled a trapped driver from a burning Nissan just moments before the car was fully swallowed by flames. The officer ran toward the smoking vehicle, broke a window, and dragged the motorist out, according to video from the scene. Bystander and news footage show the car engulfed minutes later. The driver appeared disoriented but survived.
Dashcam footage captures the split-second rescue
Raw dashcam video posted by FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth shows the officer smashing the glass and pulling the driver away as fire races through the sedan. FOX 4 published the clip last night, and the footage shows the Nissan jump from light smoke to big, rolling flames in a matter of moments. So far, it is the clearest public record of what happened on the highway.
Officer named in local report; driver survived
N+ Univision 23 Dallas identified the officer as Joshua Switzer and reported that the driver was alone in the car, appeared disoriented, and survived the rescue. According to Univision's video report, Switzer first tried the door handle, then broke the passenger-side window to reach in and pull the motorist out. Early coverage did not mention any arrests or criminal charges connected to the stop.
Highway 114's recent history of dramatic blazes
State Highway 114 is no stranger to viral fire footage. In 2021, a car exploded along the corridor, drawing national attention and prompting a social-media safety reminder from Southlake public-safety officials, as reported by Jalopnik. Southlake officers have also pulled motorists from wrecked or smoking vehicles before. A 2019 CBS News Texas report documented responders rescuing a driver on the same stretch of highway. That track record helps explain the frequent public-safety reminders urging drivers to pull over and call for help at the first sign of smoke.
The FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth dashcam clip was quickly picked up by other local outlets, including N+ Univision 23 Dallas, which aired a Spanish-language account of the rescue. As those reports ran, city officials had not released additional information beyond what could be seen in the footage. This story will be updated if authorities provide more details.
