Two Palm Bay Police officers were recognized Monday after they put themselves in danger to pull a man from a burning SUV on Sunday.

  • Incident happened Sunday near US 1 and Port Malabar Road
  • SUV plunged down 40-foot embankment next to Indian River
  • 2 officers pulled the man from SUV, brought him to safety

A bystander caught the incident on video.

"It just disappeared in the brush and smoke," said Tom Sais, who saw the crash.

Sais was driving on U.S. 1 near Port Malabar Road when he saw the SUV rear-end another vehicle and plunge over the 40-foot embankment next to the Indian River. He navigated his way down and entered through the back window.

"I got to the front, saw the fire on the windshield and saw the gentleman in the seatbelt," Sais said. "He was just flailing."

Sais managed to get the belt off but claims the man wrapped it around himself and yelled to leave him alone.

Sais was able to drag the man to the backseat.

"And that's when the sergeant showed up," Sais said.

Sgt. Steve Shytle and Officer Ryan Van Note arrived to the scene. Van Note was attempting to put out the fire. Shytle also said the victim "wasn't being rational."

"He was hollering and screaming saying, 'No, no, no,'" Shytle said.

The officers managed to pull the victim out of the SUV and were forced to use a stun gun on the man, who they stated was being uncooperative.

Fifteen other people helped get the man up the large embankment and away from the burning SUV.

"It was a great relief when we saw the people making a chain to get us up the hill," Van Note said.

The human chain managed to pull everyone to safety.

"It was just working with them," Shytle said. "Without them, we couldn't have done it."

Police said the victim was released from the hospital this morning and is expected to be OK. Charges are pending in the crash.

Police haven't given any more details as to why the man wasn't cooperating during the rescue.