Driver narrowly escapes fiery car explosion as officers rush to rescue trapped man

The state agency released the video on Thursday highlighting the officers' heroic actions during the July 3 incident. 

In the video, an officer was seen rushing to a car already engulfed in flames. Soon joined by colleagues, the officer used a baton to shatter the driver's side window before pulling an unresponsive man to safety. Moments after the rescue, a small explosion erupted on camera. 

"Our officers on routine patrol discovered this crash and immediately rushed in to check on the wellbeing of the occupant inside the burning vehicle," CHP told Fox News Digital on Saturday.

CHP said the driver may have "experienced some type of medical emergency that caused him to veer off the freeway into an embankment and collide into a tree." The crash then caused the car to catch on fire, the agency added.

Leon-Brito told the local station that he acted without hesitation.

"I didn't really think about what could happen to me, I just cared to see if there was anybody still in the car," he said. 

"I took out my baton and broke the passenger side window. I didn't see no passengers. Broke the rear window, didn't see no passengers in the rear. It wasn't until I broke the driver's window that I saw a man unconscious," Leon-Brito said. 

His partner also appeared to help pull the man away from the inferno. FOX 11 identified him as Officer Manuel Gonzalez. 

CHP told Fox News Digital that the driver was soon transported to a local hospital in stable condition. 

"Their swift and courageous actions saved a life and prevented what could have been a tragedy," CHP added.

"Recognition is nice, but I'm just here doing my job really," Leon-Brito told FOX 11.