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IRC deputy saves man from burning vehicle

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An Indian River County sheriff's deputy saved a man from a burning car Sunday morning following a single-vehicle crash. 

The incident happened at approximately 11:43 a.m. in the 9400 block of 106th Ave. in Vero Beach. 

The 911 caller was unsure if there was anyone inside the vehicle. 

Indian River County Sheriff's Deputy David Dozer responded to the call.

He said he didn't even know anyone was inside until he opened the vehicle's door.

“When I initially opened the door I couldn’t see nothing with all the smoke. As the smoke started exiting the vehicle I could see his left hand. That’s when I reached in and grabbed him and asked him to get out of the vehicle. He told me he couldn’t so I removed him from the vehicle,” Indian River County Sheriff's Deputy David Dozer said.
 
The deputy has been with the department for more than 20 years and this wasn't his first rescue.
 
The patient was transported to Orlando Burn Center for treatment of injuries. His condition was not released.

"Our deputies put their lives on the line every day. In the past six months, our dash cameras have caught one of our deputies being shot and returning fire, our deputies pulling a woman from her burning vehicle, last night's rescue of a man from his burning car, and many more heroics that do not get national attention. Our deputies are to be commended for their daily efforts to protect and serve the citizens of Indian River County," said  Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar. 

It's the second time in less than two months that Indian River County deputies saved a person from a burning car, they say.