Deputy rescues woman from car fire
MILTON — A Janesville woman is learning to walk all over again, but things could have been a lot worse for her if a Rock County sheriff's deputy hadn't found her when he did.
The sheriff's office is praising rookie Deputy Caleb Beutin, Janesville, for putting out a car fire while the driver was pinned inside Sunday night.
"We're very proud of him," Lt. Gary Groelle said.
The woman, Heather J. Oleston, 38, of 2832 N. West River Drive, Janesville, is in good condition at Mercy Hospital after the accident in Milton's North Goodrich Park.
Beutin was on duty and passing through Milton near Madison Avenue and Parkview Drive just before 8 p.m. when three men flagged him down, he said. He saw smoke coming from a car that had crashed into a tree. Oleston was unconscious and pinned inside.
As Beutin approached the car, it burst into flames.
"As soon as I saw the fire, I immediately went to my squad and I got the fire extinguisher, and I went up there to put it out, hoping it would (go out)," he said.
It did, and Beutin waited with Oleston until Milton firefighters and EMTs arrived. Authorities used hydraulic jaws to extricate Oleston from the wreck, she said.
"That's when I woke up," she said from her hospital room.
Oleston started physical therapy Friday, she said. She has a broken knee, hand, foot and shoulder.
Milton police officials took over the case when they arrived. Oleston was arrested on charges of third-offense drunken and driving with a revoked license, Milton Police Chief Jerry Schuetz said.
Oleston doesn't believe alcohol was a factor in the crash. She had two drinks that night and started having chest pains as she drove, she said. She believes she was having a panic attack, she said.
Regardless of what caused the accident, the rescue was a rare thing for the sheriff's office, Groelle said. He recalled a similar situation a couple of months ago when motorists pulled a driver out of a vehicle that was on fire in Evansville.
"It has happened, but it's certainly few and far between," he said. "It's pretty special when certainly one of our own deputies can perform that way."
Beutin is in his first year as a sheriff's deputy, though he previously served as a correctional officer at the Rock County Jail.
"It certainly bodes well for him in our department that he was able to do this," Groelle said.
Beutin said he was in the right place at the right time.
"I don't know how long it would have been for other people to get up there," he said. "It was pretty fortunate that I was driving through."
Nov 3, 2008 at 9:40 p.m.
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Let's not forget to thank the citizens that flagged down the police.
Nov 1, 2008 at 3:57 p.m.
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You're right, I was thinking in a different direction on that one.
Nov 1, 2008 at 3:34 p.m.
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Sorry, "Heat".....You're wrong. One can be convicted for Operating Under The Influence without a BAC reading. How do you think convictions are reached when a person refuses the test on their first offense?
They are two separate charges. You could have a very small person, unable to handle alcohol, and be clearly under the influence before reaching the .08 level. Therefore, based on their poor driving and field sobriety tests you could still arrest/convict them for OWI, with or without a BAC over .08.
Nov 1, 2008 at 3:22 p.m.
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"Officers can make that arrest without any blood alcohol evidence."
.
But there can be no CONVICTION without such evidence.
Nov 1, 2008 at 2 p.m.
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No, I'm certain they did not administer and Intoximeter. (Breathalyzers are a thing of the past, by the way). Irregardless, I'm certain a blood test was ordered at the hospital. In Rock County, the policy is that a blood test WILL BE (by force, if necessary) performed on those suspected of 2nd and subsequent offenses and/or if injury was involved. Just because she was arrested for "3rd Offense OWI" does not mean a breath/blood test was administered, by the way, although, as stated, I'm certain it was. Officers can make that arrest without any blood alcohol evidence. They are 2 separate offenses, OWI is different than Operating Over The Limit.
Nov 1, 2008 at 12:10 p.m.
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Nice work!
Nov 1, 2008 at 12:09 p.m.
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A panic attack? Pllleeaze.
Nov 1, 2008 at 12:06 p.m.
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Hey gabby - you always seemed to be a bright girl, but part of your comment concerns me.
"all the accidents I have been in" - I'm 45 and been in 3 accidents, all were my alcoholic fathers fault when I was under age 10. Is there a reason you've been in many accidents? I'm worried about you, I like reading your posts and don't want to see anything happen to you!! Just want to make sure you aren't forced to be drivin around by a drunk like I was. :)
Nov 1, 2008 at 11:59 a.m.
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it is always nice to have stories like this in the paper. Our Officers don't get enough praise for what they do. Some may think they just sit in there car and eat donuts(for some that may be true) but when we need them they are there. I feel this woman is meant to do something great with her life because the man up above put that officer there to save her life. I hope she learns her lesson and takes it to heart that she got a second chance.
Nov 1, 2008 at 11:36 a.m.
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Wow! 7 comments so far and not one derogatory statement about the officer or cops in general. This might be a Gazettextra record. Nice work all around.
Nov 1, 2008 at 11:35 a.m.
Nov 1, 2008 at 10:21 a.m.
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Nice job indeed! And as an EMT myself when you come across someone who is pinned inside a vehicle and unconcious, breathalyzers are not taken. Police have to request a blood draw for the ticket.
Nov 1, 2008 at 10:16 a.m.
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ljs64~I doubt they did a breathilzer. The probably took blood as they were putting an IV in her. That is how it normally works when you get into an accident and the abulance is called. At least all the accidents I have been in, the driver always has gotten blood taken. But then again what do I know!
Nov 1, 2008 at 9:57 a.m.
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Great job Deputy Beutin!
Nov 1, 2008 at 8:37 a.m.
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She was arrested on charges of third-offense drunken and driving with a revoked license, Milton Police Chief Jerry Schuetz said. So yes a breathalizer test was conducted.
Nov 1, 2008 at 6:25 a.m.
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That is the beauty of our law enforcement officers. They don't prejudge you before they leap in to action, they do what they are trained to do , and that is to serve and protect. I cringe at people who fire verbal arrows at the police or fireman, because the day will come when you need them, and they will be there. You can raise my taxes, if it goes to them.
Nov 1, 2008 at 5:39 a.m.
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Was a breathalyzer or blood test done to determine if she was indeed intoxicated? I mean really, how many people would admit they were driving drunk. Bad enough she was driving without a license.
Nov 1, 2008 at 4:03 a.m.
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Nice job! Policemen like you deserve recognition! This is a great story.
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