Florida man pulled from burning car in Vero Beach after crash, fleeing stop
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Body camera footage released by IRCSO shows deputies imploring the man to get out of the car engulfed in flames before they drag him out.

VERO BEACH, Fla. — Deputies pulled a man accused of fleeing a traffic stop out of a burning vehicle after a chase, the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office (IRCSO) said Monday.

On Sunday evening, Vero Beach Police Department officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle near the 4300 block of 26th Street. The vehicle fled west, and deputies responded to the area after officers lost sight of the vehicle, a Facebook post from the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office said.

While searching the area, deputies found the vehicle “completely engulfed in flames” in a small field near 26th Street and 82nd Avenue, the sheriff’s office said.

The driver was identified as 41-year-old Donald James Jr. Partial body camera footage released by IRCSO shows deputies imploring James to get out of the car while they make their way toward the vehicle in flames. The video shows James stating that he is injured and shows deputies dragging him away from the fire.

Deputies believe the vehicle crashed into a tree while fleeing. Deputies and Vero Beach officers then pulled the James from the wreckage.

IRCSO said James was on inmate release status for a past murder and now faces new felony charges for fleeing/eluding. James was taken to an area hospital after being pulled away from the burning vehicle.



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