Officer saves woman's life during traffic stop

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (KABC) -- Dramatic dash cam video shows an officer saving a woman's life during a traffic stop in Michigan.

The officer first went after the driver of a green van for running a red light around 11:30 a.m. Saturday in Kalamazoo, but what happens when he approached the driver's side of the car, he didn't see coming.

"Hi, how you doing?" the officer could be heard asking on dash cam video. "Are you choking? You alright? Get out of the car."

Officer Jason Gates first administered back blows, but that was unsuccessful in dislodging the obstruction. So he quickly got the woman out of the vehicle, performed the Heimlich maneuver and dislodged the food stuck in her throat.

The woman immediately embraced the officer, knowing he'd just saved her from choking to death. She could be heard sobbing as she thanked officer Gates.

Police did not say whether the choking had contributed to the woman running the red light, or if she was ticketed.