Police: Driver high on cocaine was in car moments before it burst into flames

PELHAM, N.H. — Dashcam video from the Pelham Police Department shows officers yanking an allegedly impaired driver out of his burning car just moments before it burst into flames.

Police were called to the scene by Jonathan Caress who spotted the idled car on Windham Road shortly before midnight on Monday.

Caress is lieutenant paramedic in Londonderry, and has been a first responder since he was 18 years old.

“I’ve been a firefighter for 40 some odd years. I’ve seen hundreds of these, and this one seemed to be a minor accident,” he said.

Caress said the vehicle was steaming after apparently hitting a tree. He told Boston 25 News he initially talked to the driver to see if he was okay and said the man seemed to be trying to leave the scene.

“I rolled my window down and I said ‘are you okay?’ He said ‘no, I’m fine.’ I said ‘you sure? Everything good?’ Ge said ‘no, no, I’m good.” But he looked like he was trying to shift the vehicle and get out of there. Something didn’t seem right,” Caress said.

Caress called police and headed home. He had no idea what happened after he left.

Police arrived and found Michael Hines in the driver’s seat of the car. They believe he was under the influence of cocaine.

According to officers, Hines initially refused to get out of the car.

Dashcam video shows police yanking him out of the vehicle right before it was swallowed up by flames.

Hines is seen on the footage arguing with the officers and attempting to rush back toward the burning car.

“They were making sure they were getting him to a safe distance at all cost because that vehicle had the potential to explode,” Pelham Police Capt. Stephen Toom said.

The officers risked their lives, but police believe they might not have been there in time had Caress not called for help.

“If I had come across it a little bit later, I think I would have stopped,” added Caress.

Police said Hines refused a blood test and failed a field sobriety test.

He was arrested and released on personal recognizance Tuesday morning.

Hines is set to appear in court later this month on charges of DUI and possession of cocaine.

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