It started as a normal day on the job for Scott Swank. The AAA worker was parked in his truck on Erie Boulevard Saturday when he was suddenly thrust into action.
"I heard a car speeding right behind [and then saw that it was this] red car," Swank said.
He checked his rearview mirror to see if there were police giving chase but the red car was alone.
"That’s when I saw it fishtail and it hit the telephone pole and start to roll," Swank said.
Then the car caught fire.
"I got out my car and ran over and the driver side of the car was blocked so I couldn’t get into it," he said.
Swank broke open the passenger side window and pulled one of the passengers out.
Two other people came over to help, pulling the passenger farther from the burning car and getting the driver out as well.
Both people were brought to the hospital in critical condition. One later died from his injuries.
Swank, who has been a volunteer firefighter for 15 years, says his instincts kicked in at that moment.
"I was just doing what anybody else would have done if they were in that position," he said.
Scott is now reaching out to local businesses to donate rescue tools to drivers. He says the rescue would have been much easier with proper equipment.