Heroic Army Soldier Rescues Man from Fiery Car Inferno in the Nick of Time: ‘Had to Do What I Had to Do’

Maricopa, AZ—On the evening of April 25, 2025, quick-thinking volunteers, including former police officer Arvin Dismuke and his wife Breanna, acted heroically to rescue a man from a burning vehicle on Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway.

At approximately 9:25 p.m., the driver of a Jeep crashed into a light pole near White and Parker Road, resulting in a fiery explosion. Public safety officials reported the driver sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital.

As Dismuke and his wife were driving behind the Jeep, they witnessed the collision unfold. “He didn’t turn enough and ended up hitting a light pole head-on,” Dismuke recounted. “Immediately, it burst into flames.” He instructed Breanna to call 911 while he rushed to the scene.

Upon arrival, Dismuke found the driver unconscious, trapped between the steering wheel and his seat. He quickly began speaking to the driver to assess his condition, joined by a young bystander who also rushed to assist. Together, they pried the driver from the wreckage just moments before the fire intensified.

“We only had a couple of minutes at best,” Dismuke recalled. “Once we were across the street, his whole seat was engulfed in flames.” Fortunately, a passing nurse stopped to check on the driver, shortly before police and firefighters arrived to manage the situation.

Breanna Dismuke described the horrifying experience, expressing gratitude for her husband’s swift action. “It felt like a movie,” she said, recalling her struggle to remain composed while on the phone with emergency services. “I couldn’t stop crying after and I was just thanking God that everybody made it out alive.”

Both Dismukes expressed gratitude for the additional good Samaritans who assisted during the crisis. “I don’t know who they were, but I appreciate those three humans,” Breanna noted. “That man wouldn’t have made it out without their help.”

Arvin Dismuke’s military and law enforcement background influenced his instant reaction. “I knew there was no way I could just sit there and listen to him burn to death,” he said. “Anytime I see somebody in need of help, I’m going to help.”