Off-duty officer plays role of hero, rescues man from car before it caught fire

PITTSBURGH — He’s a part-time police officer in Freedom -- but it’s what he did while off-duty that has people talking!

Channel 11's Amy Marcinkiewicz convinced Officer Ryan Chimile to tell his story. She said he was a little reluctant at first because he doesn't think what he did was anything heroic.

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“I was driving home when I saw the wreck,” Chimile said. “I jumped out to help the guy out of the car right before it caught on fire.”

Chopper 11 flew over the wreck Wednesday afternoon on Route 168 in Hanover Township.

(STORY: 1 flown to hospital after accident in Hanover Twp.)

“I grabbed the guy out of the truck and I put him all the way over here on the side of the road,” he said.

Chimile has been a police officer since 2009. He works part-time for Freedom and Baden police in Beaver County.

“This is what we’re trying to do. I just did it,” Chimile said.

Officer Chimile wasn’t alone at the scene. Channel 11 News has learned there were two other good Samaritans who helped.

The man rescued from the car is going to be OK.

WPXI