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Officers Pull Driver from Burning Car after Crash
Post Date:06/05/2026 1:26 PM
RICHARDSON POLICE DEPARTMENT
On May 28, 2026, at approximately 9:17 p.m., Richardson Police officers responded to a three-vehicle crash at the intersection of Campbell Road and the east frontage road of North Central Expressway.
Dispatchers advised responding officers that witnesses reported a vehicle was on fire and that a driver may be trapped inside.
Upon arrival, Officer Christopher Cruz observed an unconscious driver trapped inside a burning Nissan Altima. Officer Cruz immediately broke a window and attempted to remove the driver from the vehicle. However, the driver's leg was pinned, preventing his extraction.
At the same time, an off-duty Richardson Police detective, Detective Hein, was driving in the area when he observed the crash. Recognizing the emergency, he stopped and rushed to assist Officer Cruz.
As the vehicle continued to burn, Detective Hein moved to the passenger side of the Nissan to gain better access to the driver and help free his trapped leg. Working together under dangerous conditions, Officer Cruz and Detective Hein successfully extricated the driver and moved him to safety with the help of several citizens before the fire intensified.
Richardson Fire Department paramedics transported the driver of the Nissan to a local hospital, where he was treated and later released.
The preliminary investigation determined that a Subaru Outback traveling northbound on the frontage road struck the rear of a Chevrolet pickup truck and the Nissan Altima, both of which were stopped at a red light at Campbell Road. Following the collision, both the Subaru and the Nissan caught fire.
The driver of the Subaru was transported to a hospital for treatment of injuries and was later released. The driver of the Chevrolet pickup was treated at the scene.
The crash remains under investigation.
The Richardson Police Department commends Officer Cruz and Detective Hein as well as the citizens for their quick actions, courage, and commitment to protecting the lives of others during this critical incident.
