Man rescues victim from burning car wreck after setting up his camera first
A California man saved a motorist trapped in a burning vehicle after a car wreck from suspected street racing in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
When Santiago Portillo heard the accident and rushed outside, he hit record on his camera before aiding the man trapped inside, a choice that has since received backlash online.
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The clip starts with Portillo propping his phone perfectly to record the incident. He then runs over to the burning car wreck, where he sees an injured man still inside the burning car wreck.
"Oh shit, bro," Portillo says as he pulls the bloodied man to safety.
According to local media, Portillo hit record before knowing that a person was inside the vehicle.
Portillo asks bystanders to call 911 as someone else walks up with a fire extinguisher in an attempt to squash the flames. Portillo and another bystander then carry the injured motorist away from the scene, and he returns to grab his phone to continue recording.
He then gets an up close shot at the bloody and confused man, and urges him to stay put as he checks the car for more victims.
CBS Los Angeles reports that the crash occurred in front of a mattress store on Indiana Avenue where Portillo is the manager.
“I had to save him. I saw the big explosion and fire. I was not going to see human get burned,” Portillo told CBS.
However, some people are criticizing the man for recording the incident and placing the camera for the perfect view of the rescue.
Regardless of social media criticism, the victim's family thanked Portillo for saving his life. The man is expected to recover.
“He’s alive. He’s alive. We’re happy he’s alive. I know he that he may not be alive if I wasn’t there,” Portillo told CBS Los Angeles.
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