SNOHOMISH, Wash. — A Snohomish County sergeant is being credited with saving a man’s life after pulling an unresponsive driver from a burning pickup truck early Tuesday morning.

Around 5:37 a.m. on Dec. 3, Sgt. Charboneau responded to a crash in the 6300 block of State Route 9, where a pickup had struck a tree and erupted into flames. Deputies said the fire was concentrated in the engine compartment, with flames reaching 10 to 15 feet up the tree and rapidly spreading toward the passenger area.

When Sgt. Charboneau arrived, the driver was still inside and unconscious. As the fire intensified, deputies used extinguishers to slow the flames while the sergeant worked to free the man from the vehicle. He was able to pull the driver out moments before the truck became fully engulfed.

Deputies moved the man to safety and provided aid until fire crews arrived and took over medical care.

Source: Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office