Trapped in a Burning Car, She Honked for Help, and a Brave Officer Saved Her Life

Trapped in a burning car, she honked for help, and a brave officer saved her life. Most of the time, when someone honks, we notice it, but we often ignore it.

On May 25, Asharie Montgomery was driving like any other day when another vehicle rear-ended her. The impact stunned her, and then everything changed. Flames spread quickly. The heat pressed in so fiercely that it felt cold, like ice crawling across her skin. Smoke filled her lungs. The doors wouldn’t open.

She Was Trapped in a Burning Car

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Asharie remembers the suffocating fear more than the fire. The feeling that she couldn’t breathe. The realization that time was slipping away. And in that moment, with nowhere to run and nothing left to do, she prayed. Then she also honked her horn.

“Just honking my horn because… what else to do,” she later said.

That sound, small, desperate, persistent, was heard.

The Officer Ran Towards the Burning Car

Nearby, Officer Berry ran toward the burning car. Body-camera footage later showed the intensity of the flames as Asharie remained trapped inside. Her doors were jammed. The fire was winning.

Asharie remembers seeing him come. “I saw him coming,” she said—and even though the fire still raged, relief arrived with him.

Officer Berry broke the window and pulled Asharie out by her legs, dragging her to safety just moments before the car was fully overtaken by flames.

Moments.

Burns Covered Nearly a Third of Her Body

That word lingers, because miracles often live in moments.

Asharie survived, but the rescue was only the beginning. Doctors say burns covered nearly a third of her body, mostly on her right side. She’s endured multiple surgeries, skin grafts, and months of physical therapy. She wears a compression garment that helps her healing but also brings anxiety as she reenters the world.

“I don’t know what people are seeing when they’re seeing me,” she admitted.

And yet—she’s still here.

She Knows She Was Spared For a Reason

Six months later, Asharie says her life was spared for a reason, and she knows it. She has changed her major at ASU to psychology, hoping to help others navigate trauma with honesty and hope.

“I want to be the person they can talk to,” she said.

As I sit with her story, I can’t help but whisper thank you, God.

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Thank You for prayers prayed in panic.

Thank You for horns that were heard.

Thank You for brave men who run toward fire.

Asharie’s life is living proof that God still answers desperate prayers—and sometimes, His answer comes running.

Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me.”

WATCH: Trapped in a Burning Car, She Honked for Help, and a Brave Officer Saved Her Life

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h/t: People

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Heather Riggleman is a believer, wife, mom, author, social media consultant, and full-time writer. She lives in Minden, Nebraska with her kids, high school sweetheart, and three cats who are her entourage around the homestead. She is a former award-winning journalist with over 2,000 articles published. She is full of grace and grit, raw honesty, and truly believes tacos can solve just about any situation. You can find her on GodUpdates, iBelieve, Crosswalk, Hello Darling, Focus On The Family, and in Brio Magazine. Connect with her at www.HeatherRiggleman.com or on Facebook.