Police in central Iowa plan to charge a teenager for driving in circles and causing his vehicle to crash an air conditioning unit and go up in flames. (March 12)

Iowa officer pulls unconscious driver from flames

Published: 09:56:11 PM, Tue 12 March 2013 UTC

URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa police officer has rescued an unconscious driver by pulling him from his burning car.

Urbandale police spokesman Randy Peterson said Tuesday that Officer Zac McDowell wasn't injured Sunday night when he saved 18-year-old Ian Waseskuk (wa-SEHS'-kuh). The officer's dashboard camera shows McDowell opening the car's passenger door, reaching in and grabbing Waseskuk to pull him away from the flames.

Police say Waseskuk was driving in circles, doing "doughnuts," in a church parking lot across from his home in suburban Des Moines when his car hit an air conditioning unit.

Peterson says Waseskuk will be charged with misdemeanor reckless driving when he leaves Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. Hospital spokesman Gregg Lagan (LAY'-guhn) says Waseskuk is in fair but stable condition.

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