Boca Raton police officer Jimmy Jalil says he and another man who stopped to help tried to break the window. But after nearly a dozen attempts, the 32-year-old Jalil decided to use his gun.
Jalil said Friday on CBS' "Early Show" that he knew the bullet would be able to penetrate the window.
Jalil ordered everyone back and fired two shots into the rear passenger window. The dash-mounted police camera captured Jalil clearing the window of glass, then pulling the woman out.
Authorities say the driver of the car lost control on Interstate 95 on Wednesday night, slamming into a utility pole. The car then burst into flames. The driver was ejected and died.