According to news reports, the young woman was trapped in the burning vehicle for several minutes before she was rescued.
March 17, 2019 – 5:00 am: 18-year-old Vanessa Medina was rescued from a burning vehicle on Sunday morning. She had been trapped in the vehicle for several minutes, until passerby Dustin Barker was flagged down and rescued her.
The event took place on Highway 6 on Sunday morning.
There were some downed powerlines in the area of Medina’s vehicle. The fire was apparently caused by a sparking wire, leading the conflagration to start.
Medina’s passenger was calling for help, and Barker responded by running over to the vehicle. He had to smash the sunroof of Medina’s vehicle in order to free her from the flames. Barker said, “I just yanked. I just pulled her out of the hole in the door, and started shuffling back up the embankment.”
Medina was taken to the hospital with third degree burns over much of her body. She is currently in the intensive care unit. She can’t currently speak, but she’s in stable condition.
Barker was briefly hospitalized for smoke inhalation, but has since been released. The incident is still under investigation.
Terry Bryant is Board Certified in personal injury trial law, which means his extensive knowledge of the law has been recognized by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, setting him apart from many other injury attorneys. The 22 years he spent as a Municipal Judge, Spring Valley Village, TX also provides him keen insight into the Texas court system. That experience also helps shape his perspective on personal injury cases and how they might resolve. This unique insight benefits his clients. [ Attorney Bio ]
