Two Darien police officers were commended for trying to save a life of the occupant of a vehicle that had caught fire on Interstate 95, with one of the officers praised for acting at “substantial risk to his own safety.”
The accident occurred just before 5:44 p.m., Wednesday, April 6, when Jimmy Munoz, a 35-year-old Bridgeport cosmetologist lost control of his Honda Pilot in the southbound lanes of I-95 just before the Darien South rest stop.
Munoz’ vehicle first swerved left, toward the center divider, then right, going across the highway and into some trees off the shoulder. His SUV hit some trees and caught on fire while Munoz was trapped inside, according to a Connecticut Post report.
A Stamford police officer, Hugh Mullin, was driving home, saw the crashed vehicle burning, and tried to help a state police trooper get Munoz out of it. Mullin used a police baton to try to smash a window, but he and others, were unsuccessful, according to the Connecticut Post article. State police said Munoz died in the crash. Mullin was later treated for smoke inhalation.
Darien Police Officer Michael Dos Santos also helped in the efforts, according to a memo from Darien Police Chief Duane Lovello, who said Dos Santos, “with the assistance of state and Stamford [police] officers, made a valiant effort to extricate the victim as the fire consuming the vehicle intensified.”
Police Officer Gregory Benedetto “arrived on scene and also assisted with extrication efforts, which included the use of available fire extinguishers.” Like Benedetto, Dos Santos acted, Lovello said in a memorandum, “without regard for his own safety.”
Lovello provided copies of the memo to the Darien Police Commission at its meeting last week.
Here’s the memo from Lovello:
To: Sgt. T.J. Whyte
From: Chief Duane J. Lovello
April 29, 2016
Re: Award Nomination — Officer Michael Dos Santos; Officer Gregory Benedetto
I am pleased to have received and endorse your award nomination of Officer Dos Santos and Officer Benedetto for their actions on April 5, 2016
On that date at 1744 hours [5:44 p.m.], Officer Dos Santos arrived at the scene of a reported motor vehicle accident on I-95 westbound to discover the sole occupant of the single vehicle crash trapped in a vehicle which subsequently caught fire. Officer Dos Santos, with the assistance of state and Stamford officers, made a valiant effort to extricate the victim as the fire consuming the vehicle intensified. Officer Benedetto arrived on scene and also assisted with extrication efforts, which included the use of available fire extinguishers. Regrettably, these efforts were not successful.
The actions of Officer Dos Santos were similarly undertaken without regard for his own safety. The efforts of these officers are in keeping with the finest traditions of the profession.
I will include this correspondence in the officers’ personnel files and will also bring this to the attention of the Police Commission.