Man didn't know his car was on fire

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - A sleeping man was pulled from a burning car by a Grand Rapids police officer early Thursday morning, and was then arrested.

The man, Alan Blake, fell asleep in his car in the 700 block of Innes NE. The car was parked but still running, and his foot was on the gas. That, authorities said, is what caused the car to catch fire.

Officer Eric Hornbacher responded to the scene to calls of a disturbance -- someone was revving their engine on a side street.

Smoke was billowing from the car and the driver's door was open when Hornbacher -- a 15-year veteran of the Grand Rapids police force -- approached the scene.

"I found that the driver was still sitting in the driver seat," Hornbacher told 24 Hour News 8 on Thursday.

Hornbacher said that Blake didn't seem to realize his car was on fire.

"Get out of the car," Hornbacher said loudly as he pulled Blake from the vehicle. "Your car is on fire!"

Hornbacher escorted Blake to the other side of the street.

"The fact that he was conscious and was talking to me made it kind of surreal," said Hornbacher.

He then went back to the car to make sure no one else was inside. Once he was sure there were no other potential victims, he returned to Blake.

"Did you not realize your car was on fire?" he asked Blake.

"I was shocked that he had no clue that his car was on fire and he was sitting in a car that was full of smoke," Hornbacher said on Thursday.

Hornbacher then arrested Blake for operating while intoxicated.

Hornbacher has been applauded in the past for the number of drunks he's taken off the streets -- but never in a fashion like this. It was a quick transition from life saver to arresting officer.

"It felt a little weird. I would have been more than happy just to get him home and to family," said Hornbacher. "I'm just happy that he was alive and that he was okay and that nobody else was hurt."

Hornbacher has been applauded in the past for the number of drunks he's taken off the streets -- but never in a fashion like this. It was a quick transition from life saver to arresting officer.

"It felt a litle wierd," said Hornbacher. "I would have been more than happy just to get him home and to family."   

Blake     was arraigned Thursday afternoon on a second offense of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

"That was a dangerous situation that he put himself and other people in," said Hornbacher. "I just hope that he learns his lesson about drinking and driving and uses moderation in the future."