CHARLESTON, S.C. – A man was rescued from a burning car early Saturday in Charleston, South Carolina, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Daniel Pettett was driving to work at 2:30 a.m. when he noticed something glowing up ahead on the side of the road, the Coast Guard said. A fire was slowly engulfing a minivan that had driven off the road and struck a tree.
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Pettett pulled off the road and attempted to free the driver. Authorities said two other good Samaritans arrived and together they were able to free the man behind the wheel.
Pettett returned to the minivan to search for additional passengers, but found none. The Coast Guard said he returned to the driver and administered first aid until paramedics arrived.
"When I arrived on scene, it was my duty as a Coast Guardsman and as a person to render assistance and make notifications to emergency response personnel," Pettett said. "Nobody is a bystander to an accident when you are the first on scene. You become the first responder."
The extent of the driver's injuries were unknown, the Coast Guard said.