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Lincoln Park police officer and Good Samaritan save woman in burning SUV at bank's ATM

Posted at 6:27 PM, Dec 08, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-09 08:38:00-05

The Lincoln Park Police and Fire Departments are proud of the heroic action of an officer who saved a woman from her burning SUV.

Officer Joe Sparks was the first to arrive at the scene at a Credit Union One, on Fort Street in Lincoln Park.

An elderly woman was trapped inside her 2013 Ford Explorer after the engine randomly burst into flames.

Officer Sparks told 7 Action News, with flames soaring as high as the building, time was running out.

He first tried to break the glass with his night stick to rescue her, but as he tried to reach for the lock, he realized it had melted.

Then a Good Samaritan came to help.

The two noticed the back window on the passenger side was open. Eventually the victim was able to climb to the back seat of the car.

The men were to pull the victim to safety.

Officer Sparks, a 17 year veteran at the Lincoln Park Police Department says while it feels good to save a like, he is humble about this heroic act.

He is also thankful to that Good Samaritan.