Police save man’s life

Car bursts into flames

Two Sahuarita police officers saved the life of a speeding motorist by pulling him from his car shortly before it burst into flames early Tuesday, police said. The motorist had rammed one of the officers moments before, spinning his patrol car into the other one.

Sahuarita officers Sean Santos, in the lead squad car, and Mike Munkelnbeck, in the second squad car, were injured. They were released Tuesday morning after being treated at University Medical Center, Sahuarita Police Sgt. Matt McGlone said.

The collision involving a Toyota sedan took place on Nogales Highway near the bridge over the Santa Cruz River, a distance south of Old Nogales Highway.

The Toyota raced through Tucson, police there said. It was heading southbound on Nogales Highway when it drifted into the northbound lanes, hitting Santos’ car head-on and spinning it around into Munkelnbeck’s vehicle.

The two officers jumped out and, in an effort to secure the scene, pulled the driver out of his Toyota sedan, which then burst into flames, McGlone said.

“They saved his life, no doubt about it,” McGlone said.

The head-on collision “totaled” Santos car, McGlone said.

The motorist was being held at UMC under police guard. His name was not released.

Tucson police said the Toyota sped through Tucson and was tracked by a police helicopter and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, which alerted Sahuarita police.

pfranchine@sahuaritasun.com | 547-9738