This is the heartwarming moment a state trooper rescued an elderly driver stranded in a car on a freezing night in Arkansas.

Eagle-eyed cop Brandon Bird inspected the seemingly abandoned sedan parked along Interstate 40 and was shocked to find a disoriented old man sleeping inside on January 20.

The unnamed motorist was reported to have run out of gas and had decided to spend the night in his vehicle amid freezing temperatures.

Trooper Bird contacted the man's family residing on the opposite side of the state to inform them of his condition.

Speaking to local media, the compassionate officer said: 'He was coming back from Missouri, he had just kinda gone on a drive and he really didn't tell the family where he was going.

'I said you're out of gas you can't continue on. The thought of getting him some gas was a thought but I didn't want him sitting out there all night, it was 20 degrees, 25 degrees Fahrenheit and it was going to get colder.'

Unwilling to leave the man out in the bone-chilling cold, Brandon then took the driver to a hotel and booked a room for him out of his own pocket.

The Arkansas State Police said: 'The man's emotional distress, combined with the dangerously cold temperatures, could have proved to be a lethal mix had he stayed in his car overnight.

'However, Trooper Bird's gentle persistence and kindness may have saved his life. His actions are a testament to the Arkansas State Police's unwavering dedication and commitment to serving and protecting the community.'