Davis Officer Rescues Driver From Burning Car

Corporal Pheng Ly pulled an unresponsive driver from a vehicle fully engulfed in flames on Highway 80 during a November 1 crash.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Emergency Response

Davis Officer Rescues Driver From Burning Car

Davis Police corporal Pheng Ly broke the driver's side window of a crashed vehicle and pulled the unresponsive driver away from flames that had engulfed the engine compartment on eastbound Highway 80 east of Richards Boulevard. The driver was treated for injuries and arrested on suspicion of DUI.

Why it matters

The rescue highlights how quickly responding officers must act when a crash results in fire, and the Davis Police Department's release of body-cam footage offers the public a direct view of the response. For Davis residents, it underscores the emergency response capacity along a major regional corridor.

The evidence is body-cam footage released Monday by the Davis Police Department, showing the vehicle's engine compartment fully engulfed in flames on arrival. The source does not report the driver's current condition or the cause of the crash.

The players

Davis Police Department

The municipal law enforcement agency of Davis, California, which responded to the crash and released the body-cam footage.

Pheng Ly

A Davis Police Department corporal who broke the vehicle's window and pulled the unresponsive driver from the flames.

The details

Corporal Pheng Ly ran toward the burning vehicle on eastbound Highway 80 east of Richards Boulevard on November 1, broke the driver's side window while speaking with the driver, and reached in to pull the unresponsive driver away from the flames. The driver was treated for injuries and arrested on suspicion of DUI.

November 1, 2026: Corporal Pheng Ly rescues the driver from the burning vehicle on Highway 80.
Monday, November 9, 2026: Davis Police Department releases body-cam footage of the rescue.

Seasonal Patterns

The release of body-cam footage by the Davis Police Department follows its practice of publicly sharing recordings of notable emergency responses, offering a documented record of how local officers handle roadside fire rescues. The incident adds one more case to that record without establishing a broader seasonal trend.

Drivers on Highway 80 near Richards Boulevard should be aware that crashes there can involve fire and that prompt emergency response matters. If you witness a crash, move to a safe distance and call emergency services immediately.

The takeaway

The rescue shows that roadside emergency response depends on officers acting within seconds, and the public release of footage makes those decisions visible. Residents who travel Highway 80 can use the case as a reminder to keep emergency numbers accessible.