BOYLE HEIGHTS, Calif. (KTLA) — Two LAPD officers are being hailed as heroes after they rescued a pursuit suspect from a burning car.
It happened on the night of February 6 on the 10 Freeway near the East L.A. Interchange in Boyle Heights.
KTLA’s Sky5 was overhead as the suspect’s car skidded out of control, slammed into a guardrail and then burst into flames.
LAPD officers Erick Sinkovitz and Luis Rivera were in the primary unit behind the suspect.
It was the first pursuit for both officers, and they pulled up just seconds after the impact.
“I saw the vehicle in flames. My first thought was that he was ejected,” Rivera said.
“We just saw the debris, we just saw the car on fire… We were just looking for him somewhere on the freeway,” Sinkovitz recalled.
It wasn’t until they approached the car that they saw the driver was actually still inside.
“He’s unconscious in the car. He’s moving, but he’s not responsive,” Rivera said.
“He was semi-conscious, he was kind of tangled up in his seatbelt,” Sinkovitz echoed.
“The fire was spreading real fast, you can see it right in front of you,” Rivera said.
“But again, you don’t have time to think. It’s just react at that point, just try to get him out as fast as possible and retreat,” he added.
“We all just grabbed limbs and just pulled him out,” Sinkovitz said.
Less than three minutes after 34-year-old Juan Carlos Sandoval was rescued, his red Chevy Camaro was engulfed in flames.
“We knew we had to act fast, but it’s the first flaming car I’ve seen, so I didn’t know it was going to engulf that fast,” Sinkovitz remarked.
Despite putting themselves at risk to make the rescue, both officers shied away from the “hero” moniker.
“It was a team effort. A lot of guys came in, a lot of guys I didn’t even know. They were running toward the fire just like we were,” Sinkovitz recalled.
“When we get there it’s just instinct,” Rivera insisted. “You have to act, time is of the essence. You see him and you just do your job.”
61 Comments to “Officers Hailed as Heroes After Fiery Crash Rescue”
February 6, 2013 at 11:14 PM
Good Job by KTLA 5 Skycam 5
February 8, 2013 at 12:08 AM
Jiggers husband right,hahhahahahahaha
February 6, 2013 at 11:17 PM
Still in shock, saw this live, thankfully the driver seemed to come through it ok and props to those officers who ran up to the car to pull him out.
February 7, 2013 at 2:13 AM
What *an Idiot
February 7, 2013 at 1:41 PM
Thankfully the driver seemed to come through it ok????
What about the damn officers and the other motorists you STUPID LOSER!
February 6, 2013 at 11:27 PM
WHAT A IDIOT
February 6, 2013 at 11:58 PM
Right , it takes one to know one .
Using correct grammar , it is WHAT AN IDIOT !
February 7, 2013 at 12:30 AM
Burn all DUI suspects to DEATH!
February 7, 2013 at 1:43 AM
Suspects? you mean not even convicted of a crime?…what if the driver is having a seizure? what if the person had a stroke? there are many mitigating factors in what may appear to be a Driver under the Influence. Your statement is one of pure ignorance of the human condition and reeks of Patent Brain damage……..
February 7, 2013 at 6:09 AM
Ryno wants to drink and drive without consequence.__Go kill yourself.
February 7, 2013 at 7:38 AM
fail
February 7, 2013 at 9:07 AM
says the guy who says "a idiot"
February 6, 2013 at 11:39 PM
To the retard above me, it's what "an" idiot. If you're going to call someone "an" idiot, do it right.
February 7, 2013 at 1:22 PM
lol. very true
February 7, 2013 at 1:24 PM
he couldn't even spell invisible right.
February 6, 2013 at 11:43 PM
Immediately ran up? Nope, they approached with caution. They should have walked slower and let the drunk enjoy what he got himself into.
February 7, 2013 at 1:45 AM
what if the driver is having a seizure? what if the person had a stroke? there are many mitigating factors in what may appear to be a Driver under the Influence. Your statement is one of pure ignorance of the human condition and reeks of Patent Brain damage……..
February 7, 2013 at 12:00 AM
Ktla rules
February 7, 2013 at 12:02 AM
I've seen many police chases live but THAT is the most violent police chase crash I ever saw live. I love you KTLA!
February 7, 2013 at 12:14 AM
good job for the cops saving a life …..as for the man I hope that were ever his problem was he gets the help… he has now learn a important lesson not to drink and drive… he is alive thanks to the cops … my prayers that he gets help to stop drinking and that he heal from his injuries and thank god he didn't killed someone and that he didn't killed himself hope, that he stops drinking and realized how lucky he was or should say someone was looking over him and after the accident
February 7, 2013 at 12:29 AM
should have left him in the car.
February 7, 2013 at 1:52 AM
all of the negative comments are so weak what if the driver is having a seizure? what if the person had a stroke? there are many mitigating factors in what may appear to be a Driver under the Influence. Your statements are one of pure ignorance of the human condition and reeks of Brain damage.. No one here has any of the facts the key word is SUSPECTED….Remember that in this day of dwindling rights, saying the person should be allowed to burn to Death ? Damn ! Never wish on another something you would not wish for yourself or Loved ones…….Empathy seems to be a lost cause now as many of you seem to want to kick the hungry dog rather than care for it ….I am ashamed for Los Angeles and it's citizenry………
February 7, 2013 at 2:52 AM
How many times must yo post the same thing? We get it.
So just because there is a naked man, holding a knife standing above your dead raped daughter. He is "suspected". Whatever officer obvious.. Get a life.
February 7, 2013 at 11:05 AM
High speed pursuit. Did you miss that part? Having a stroke does not make you engage in a high speed pursuit, neither does a seizure.
February 7, 2013 at 11:19 AM
Seriously? I hope it's a time limit thing, otherwise the moderators are losing it.
February 7, 2013 at 5:23 AM
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February 7, 2013 at 11:21 AM
You leave this crap up but censor a thoughtful comment?
February 7, 2013 at 6:53 AM
To all that post. The above screen name "marlowpowell" DO NOT OPEN ANY OF HIS OR HER LINKS. IT'S A VIRUS !!!! VIRUS !!!!
February 7, 2013 at 10:18 AM
thank you kay kay kay
February 7, 2013 at 7:09 AM
Get a life
He sped
Darwin award
February 7, 2013 at 8:00 AM
Southern California has to be the "high speed pursuit" capitol of the world. There has been several or more for the past few weeks. I still fail to understand why these idiots actually feel confident that they will get away from running with police and news helicopters overhead. As for this guy's reason, hard to say. I doubt it was a "seizure" or a "stroke", probably alcohol or drug induced leading to euphoric dementia and the feeling of being able to get away with it. Some viewers protest that these high speed chases should not be aired, I disagree. People should see them and realize running from the cops is stupid and dangerous.
February 21, 2013 at 9:53 AM
they just stole my car for 30 days and only gave me a letter of apology for their mistake after i had to spend almost $600 getting it back, should we always sit back and hope they aren't violating us? Cops will chase you if you have a bumper sticker on your car they dont agree with, wake up please
February 7, 2013 at 8:14 AM
People are dumb,why get drunk and start to drive,under the influence.when I get drunk on Friday or Saturday night.i walk home, or get some body to pick me up.
February 7, 2013 at 8:20 AM
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February 21, 2013 at 2:56 AM
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February 7, 2013 at 8:54 AM
I bet he sobered up real quick after he crashed…
February 7, 2013 at 10:55 AM
That's because all the alcohol burned off.. lol
February 7, 2013 at 10:02 AM
Its easy to say, "He got what he deserved" and, "Should have let him burn". Think before you speak. You have no idea if this was one of your loved ones. This person is very lucky to be alive at all and thank God no one else was hurt during this.
To KTLA….I know these chases bring in many viewers, but was it necessary to run the crash over and over and over? Personally, I was affected by what I saw and had a sleepless night. I could not turn the t.v. off, because I was truly in shock from witnessing this live and I could not physically move or speak. KTLA, please let us know of this drivers outcome.
February 7, 2013 at 10:16 AM
He was trying to make it to the border.
February 7, 2013 at 11:18 AM
Wow what an awesome crash. Glad to see KTLA is entertaining it's audience with this type of "news". Why don't you report on something important instead of showing car chases hoping that someone will get killed so you can "scoop" every other news org. While entertaining to watch, showing car chases on the news is irresponsible to the public good. But hey you just care about the ratings.
February 7, 2013 at 11:37 AM
Best comments from various site I'm on:
Pinto?
V-Tech kicked in.
Portable meth lab?
Must be 3rd gen F Body
California = Land of idiots.
February 7, 2013 at 11:46 AM
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It may say that there is a virus connected to this link, just ignor it. it really works. Because I had a relative from the Ukrain that left me over $2,457,876.00 in cash to be deposited into a US bank, I will give you half if you help me. Just give me your name, Social Security number, your credit card number and the bank you have a account with and I will deposit 1/2 the cash. just send me $2,486.00 for the bank fee. God Bless you….
February 7, 2013 at 3:12 PM
This is one of the oldest scams in the book. Do not believe it. I first saw it 35 years ago before the internet and it happens to unsuspecting people all the time. The last time my idiot brother in law called me to ask for money to get his share. He didn't connect the fact that he had no relatives in AFRICA.
DO NOT REPLY TO THESE SCAM ARTISTS/THIEVES?
February 8, 2013 at 7:40 PM
lmao oh so true i dont get how ppl keep fralling for it
February 7, 2013 at 12:33 PM
I'm an idiot. And I'm white!!
February 7, 2013 at 12:51 PM
Guess he won't qualify for citizenship…
February 7, 2013 at 12:56 PM
Stay in the groove Cole!
February 7, 2013 at 1:04 PM
He stole an extra donut. LA Police need all the donuts. Glad he’s safe.
February 7, 2013 at 6:30 PM
Entertainment Rating of this awesome chase now at http://CarChaseLosAngeles.com
February 7, 2013 at 10:18 PM
Wait a minute….. how hilarious is this guy in the Helicopter. "turn! boom! crash! on fire!". I loved his interpretation of how it sounded.
February 8, 2013 at 10:29 AM
THIS story died, what happen to the guy? I want a follow up, did he make it? This was the worst ending for a runner I have ever seen. But since the search for the cop shooter, this has gotten NO attention please follow up on this story.
February 8, 2013 at 12:00 PM
His name is John Kendrik RIP <3
February 8, 2013 at 6:30 PM
Is there a follow up piece on condition of the driver? Name?
February 20, 2013 at 11:46 PM
Is this story two weeks old or two hours old?
February 21, 2013 at 2:57 AM
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February 21, 2013 at 9:49 AM
dude was probably doin maybe 5 over the speed limit and didn't want to succumb to the greatness that everyone thinks is the LAPD, they almost killed eveyone on that freeway for what exactly? never said why they were chasing him
February 7, 2013 at 4:13 AM
some this wrong?