HOUSTON, TX –Just after 1:30 a.m. Saturday, January 17, 2026, a wrong-way crash on Tomball Parkway sparked a life-saving rescue as Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputies and good samaritans raced against time to reach a driver trapped inside a burning vehicle.
The crash involved two vehicles traveling in the southbound lanes. The wrong-way driver was pronounced deceased at the scene. The second driver was left trapped inside an SUV that quickly became overtaken by flames.
Deputy John Syzdek and Sergeant Jonathan Tirk were among the first deputies to arrive. Civilian wrecker drivers Coty Goldvarg and Gordon Hagen of Precision Towing were already on scene and immediately began attempting to reach the trapped driver by trying to pry open the door. Deputies joined the rescue effort within moments.
“When I saw the car in flames, my first thought was that I hoped nobody was inside,” Deputy Syzdek said. “When I found out someone was, I knew I had to get him out.”
Fire and heavy smoke made access extremely dangerous. Initial attempts to remove the driver through the passenger side were unsuccessful due to the intense heat.
“We tried everything. We tried to get a knife to cut the seatbelt and pry open the doors—nothing was working,” said Sgt. Jonathan Tirk.
Deputy Syzdek ran to retrieve an additional fire extinguisher, giving the group one final opportunity to reach the driver.
“He was unconscious at the time, but once the flames started whipping at his legs, he was wincing in pain and we had to get him out,” Syzdek said.
Working together under extreme conditions, deputies and wrecker drivers were able to pull the driver free through a car window just moments before the vehicle reignited in flames, briefly knocking responders to the ground.
Once clear of the vehicle, the driver was moved to a nearby grassy area, where EMS took over care. The driver was transported to the hospital in critical but stable condition. No deputies were injured during the rescue.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez praised the deputies and good samaritans for their decisive actions that ultimately saved the driver’s life.
“We are extremely proud of them,” Gonzalez said. “It’s truly representative of the work of law enforcement and what our deputies do every day—serving and protecting our community.”
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office commends Deputy Syzdek, Sergeant Tirk, Coty Goldvarg, and Gordon Hagen of Precision Towing for their bravery, teamwork, and split-second decision-making during a life-or-death rescue.
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