A homeless man in Texas is now being hailed as a hero after rescuing a police officer from a burning car last week.
It all happened last Wednesday when a Harris County Sheriff’s deputy got caught up in a car accident while chasing a robbery victim. Somewhere during the chase, the deputy collided with another vehicle, then five others plowed into the mess.
Johnny Walker, a homeless man, said he was doing some freelance work nearby when he heard the crash and came running. Upon seeing the deputy’s vehicle on fire, he charged into the wreckage and managed to pull the unconscious officer to safety.
“I’m homeless. I was doing some work for someone. I was taking some tools back when I heard ‘boom, boom, boom, boom, boom,'” a clearly emotional Walker told a local news outet.
“I ran out here to see what it is and I saw a lot of cars, but I paid attention to the fire. My instincts were to go to that car and help him out because he was crushed in on both sides,” he added.
"Nobody was trying to make an effort, so when I went on one side, couldn't get in. I jumped over the car, two more youngsters came and jumped behind me," Walker said. "We pulled him. I opened the door and got him out. We picked him up, put him over the car, took him inside the store."
“Sometimes, you have to make a choice,” he continued. “That car was on fire. I could lose my life.”
Walker can be seen on surveillance footage of the incident from a nearby camera running to help the officer even as other bystanders ran away or got in their cars and sped off.
Walker said he tried to help another woman from her car; unfortunately, she did not survive. Two children, ages 2 and 5, are being treated at a local hospital, along with the deputy.
"I think I was at the right place at the right time, being homeless," Walker said. "I tried to help that lady. She passed though."
"I would want someone to do it for me," he continued, adding, 'I’m just disappointed we couldn’t help someone else. I’m just thinking about them little kids."
Amazingly, this story, while tragic, has another bright spot – Walker, who has been living on the streets for years, has now been reunited with his family, who says they’ve been searching for him for years and thought he may have been killed in a stabbing. They’ve now been able to reconnect with Walker after seeing him on the news being dubbed a hero.
An incredible silver lining to an awful story. Johnny Walker has been homeless for years. His family was told he may have been killed in a stabbing. They’ve been searching daily.. but then saw him on the news this morning! He helped rescue the deputy from the burning car. @KHOU pic.twitter.com/S4urXG9Cwa
— Janelle Bludau (@JanelleKHOU) January 13, 2022