I think he did try to 'turn it into a glider'. It looked like the revs dropped off on short final but the prop was still windmilling when the fire tanker drove in front of the camera
Prop tips were folded back when it stopped. Looked more like a Bonanza to me.
Only two things wrong with the story I saw was a reference to the pilot taking 'evasive action'
and treating it as a news story of any significance. More peril and danger to occupants & public from a taxi's blowout on the freeway.