Overview
- A crash and engine fire on Interstate 80 just east of Richards Boulevard on Nov. 1 left a driver trapped and unresponsive until Corporal Pheng Ly arrived and forced open the driver’s side window to remove him.
- Davis Police released Ly’s body‑worn camera video this week that shows him unbuckling the driver, dragging him away from the burning vehicle, and calling for medical aid.
- The driver, identified in reporting as 22‑year‑old Aidan Vandegrift, was treated at a hospital and later arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence while the California Highway Patrol investigated the collision.
- The department publicly commended Ly for the rescue and noted this is the second time he has pulled someone from a burning car on the same stretch of I‑80, a 27‑year tenure that includes a previous Lifesaving Commendation.
- Officials and coverage link the early‑morning crash to post‑Halloween late‑night activity and say the footage underscores how quickly vehicle fires can escalate and why DUI enforcement remains a public safety priority.