Man rescues woman from burning car

David Cruz of Kalispell has been credited with saving a woman’s life Friday by pulling her from a burning car after a crash near Chattanooga, Tenn.

Cruz is working there as a security guard for a contractor of the Federal Emergency Management Administration.

According to news reports from the area, a Hamilton County Sheriff’s spokesman said the single-car crash happened at about 8:45 a.m. when 37-year-old Melinda Lindkvist swerved to miss a deer and hit a guardrail.

When officers arrived, Cruz and another man were putting water on the woman’s burns. Officers then learned that Cruz had pulled the driver from her burning car.

They credited Cruz’s quick thinking for saving her life. Lindkvist was airlifted from the scene and later taken to Vanderbilt Medical Center.

The accident investigation found traces of gasoline on the guardrail that apparently fueled the fire.

Contacted by telephone in Tennessee, Gary Cox of Billings, Cruz’s supervisor, said they both work for Security Consultants Corporation.

The business contracted with FEMA to provide security at flooding sites in Tennessee.

He said Security Consultants put out a call nationwide for officers willing to deploy to fill in the manpower shortage.

“They live under miserable, rotten conditions at disaster sites,” Cox said.

Cox said that Cruz left Kalispell in early May. He was assigned to FEMA staff and a recreation vehicle full of computers and electronic equipment.

“These people are out assessing the damage,”  Cox said. “He protects the people and equipment.”

In Kalispell, he serves as a reserve officer for Security Consultants.

The group provides protection at the Social Security and Internal Revenue Service offices in Kalispell.

“He’s their backup officer,” Cox said.

He said Cruz was on the way to his job site when the accident occurred. Cox said he wasn’t surprised that Cruz put his own safety aside to pull the woman from her burning vehicle.

“That’s just Cruz,” he said. “He’s a very professional law enforcement officer.”

According to Cox, Cruz, who turns 60 this year, is scheduled to return to Kalispell no later than June 25.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.