Two Cleveland officers save man from burning car on city's east side

CLEVELAND - Two Cleveland police officers rescued a man from a burning car and dragged him to safety Wednesday night.

Patrol Officers Bonnie Simmerly and Elaina Ciacchi were called to check on a suspicious vehicle in the middle on the street on Haldane Road. There was a man sleeping inside the car and when they tapped on the window, he put the car in gear and sped off.

Cleveland police said the two officers went looking for the car and found it in a wooded area near Hillsboro and Endora roads.

The car had gone off the road and was on its side. The officers could see sparks and smoke coming from underneath the car as flames came from the hood, police said.

Patrol Officers Simmerly and Ciacchi broke out the car’s rear window then pulled him out of the car and up to the road.

The driver was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center for treatment. He was cited for driving under suspension and failure to control.