GOODYEAR, AZ - An Arizona police officer with the Goodyear Police Department (GPD) is being hailed a hero after he saved a woman from a burning car along the freeway.
The incident happened just before 4:30 a.m. on May 25th near Interstate 10 and 91st Avenue and the incident was caught on camera, according to FOX10. Authorities said that the officer was returning to Goodyear after booking a suspect into jail when he came across a serious crash involving multiple vehicles.
One of the vehicles was on fire and inside was the driver who was honking the horn, seeking help. Police said that the officer, "broke the driver's side window and rescued the woman, whose hair was on fire, by pulling her from the burning car." The officer tried to put out the flames with his own hands, sustaining serious burns in the process. He then used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire.
The woman, Asharie Cheatham, was taken to a hospital in critical condition; she is expected to survive. Police said, "In an extraordinary twist of fate, the woman is the daughter of a Goodyear Firefighter." The officer, Dakota Berry, was also hospitalized. He is expected to make a full recovery.
During a news conference on May 28th, Officer Berry said, "You know, just simply doing my job. End up hearing the car horn honking and immediately ran over to the driver side. At that time, I realized someone was still alive in the vehicle." As the flames grew, Berry grabbed a glass-breaking tool from his patrol car to smash the driver's side window. The glass shattered enough for the driver to kick through.
GPD Chief Brian Issitt said, "He looked at me and simply said, 'I'm just doing my job, sir.' What a remarkable statement from a true hero." He added, "This heroic and selfless act exemplifies the bravery and commitment of our officers to serve and protect, often at great personal risk. His quick thinking and fearless actions undoubtedly saved a life that morning.
We are immensely proud of our officer's courage. This incident is a powerful reminder of the strength of our public safety family and the extraordinary sacrifices made in service to others." Mayra Reeson of GPD said, "He continued to do his job while he was injured. He put out flares to make sure that another collision did not happen on the freeway. This is a major highway where this happened, a major interstate."
Goodyear Fire Captain Simeon Cheatham said, "On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the overwhelming love, support, and prayers for my daughter Asharie as she begins the long journey of recovery following a tragic accident that left her with serious burns. Asharie is a remarkable young woman — courageous, determined, and full of life. Even in the face of unimaginable pain and challenge, her resilience shines through.
Every day, she inspires us with her strength and will to heal. This road will not be easy, but Asharie has never backed down from adversity. With the continued outpouring of support from our community, and with God's grace, I have no doubt she will rise from this even stronger than before. Please continue to keep her in your hearts and prayers as we walk this path with faith, love, and hope."
