VOLNEY, N.Y. -- A car chase in Volney was followed by a crash and a house fire Friday morning. 

An Oswego County sheriff's deputy has been credited with saving the four people she was chasing in a stolen vehicle.

The deputy tried stopping the driver on State Route 3 in Volney, after they reportedly stole beer from a nearby convenience store.

The driver allegedly took off, but didn't get far. Within seconds, they crashed into an oncoming car, sending it into a ditch.  The stolen vehicle then hit a house, igniting a fire that trapped all four people inside the car.

"The fourth person out was partially ejected and was either caught or somewhat caught up on the wreckage.  So the deputy had a difficult time extracting them to the point where one bystander actually withdrew from assisting because of the intense heat.  But she stayed there, and she was able to extract that fourth person,” said Oswego County Undersheriff Gene Sullivan.

All four people in the stolen vehicle were hospitalized, as were two people in the vehicle that crashed in the ditch. None of their injuries are considered life-threatening.

Authorities also say the two people inside the home are safe, but one was checked as a precaution.

There was also severe damage to the house.

"It's kind of sad because the folks that live there, they just bought the house, they just redid the whole inside," said Ronald Moore, their neighbor. "One of them has a disability. So, we were afraid for them obviously, but they got out. So, you know, it's shocking. It could have happened to anything."

The undersheriff says the crash is still under investigation, and drug use may be involved.