<b<By Renton Reporter staff
Two Renton Police officers who likely saved the life of a woman in a burning car March 8 will be honored Monday night by the City Council.
The council will recognize officers Edward Sagiao and Shelly Hamel at its meeting at 7 p.m. in its chambers, seventh floor, Renton City Hall, 1055 S. Grady Way.
According to the Renton Police Department, this is how the incident unfolded during the early morning hours of March 8:
On March 8, 2009, at 4:22 a.m., Renton Police officers responded to an injury motor vehicle collision in the 1600 Block of Oakesdale Avenue Southwest. Officer Edward Sagiao was the first officer to arrive at the scene. He observed the only vehicle that had been involved in the collision was upside down in a ravine and on fire. Boeing security officers had also arrived at the location and attempted to extinguish the flames with their fire extinguishers but were unable to put out the fire.
Officer Sagiao quickly determined that the adult female driver of the vehicle was trapped, hanging upside down in the driver’s seat of the burning vehicle. The driver was seriously injured and unable to release the seatbelt or exit the vehicle. Officer Sagiao quickly entered the burning vehicle through the passenger side window and using his knife, was able to cut through the seatbelt freeing the driver.
Officer Shelly Hamel arrived at the location shortly after Officer Sagiao and immediately went into the ravine and assisted Officer Sagiao in removing the driver from the car and carrying her to safety. Officer Sagiao suffered minor smoke inhalation and lacerations to his hands while cutting through the seatbelt and removing the driver from the vehicle. Members of the Renton Fire Department arrived on scene shortly thereafter and extinguished the fire.
Chief Kevin Milosevich said that Officers Sagiao and Hamel displayed extreme courage and composure in a very dangerous situation and placed their personal safety at substantial risk to rescue the driver of the overturned and burning vehicle.
The 27-year-old female driver of the vehicle involved in the collision was transported to Harborview Medical Center in serious condition.
