(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — As a vehicle was burning near northwest suburban Arlington Heights over the weekend, an Illinois State Trooper saved two dogs trapped inside.
Investigators say early on Sunday morning, one vehicle hit the back of another vehicle on the Jane Addams Tollway near Arlington Heights Road. Police say the vehicle that was hit rolled over and caught fire.
Trooper Alejandro Ortiz said two French Bulldogs were trapped in the burning vehicle.
"When I exited my squad car, there was a female yelling for help, telling me that two of her dogs were still stuck in the vehicle. So at that point, I got out of my squad car, went to my trunk and took out my fire extinguisher and ran towards the area of smoke," Ortiz said.
"I used my fire extinguisher to attempt to extinguish the small engine block flame, but it wasn't enough."
When he realized that wasn't going to work, Ortiz decided he needed to get into the car.
"I used my foot and I kicked the windshield approximately four to five times until my foot finally went through the windshield. And then with my hands, I scraped the remaining glass away so I could make a hole big enough so I could start getting both the French Bulldogs out."
He said that just seconds later, the fire flared up.
Ortiz said the dogs appeared to be OK, and police said the drivers of the two vehicles were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.
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