A fiery crash on the Northern State Parkway in Commack claimed the life of a 6-year-old Massapequa girl Tuesday night despite the daring efforts of three men.

Police say the child?s mom, Carline Dhaiti, was following her fiancé?s car, which had a flat tire. A third car rear-ended the mother?s car, causing it to explode, according to authorities.

James Lucci, of Mastic, and friend Rob Sturiale, of North Babylon, say they heard the crash and ran to the wreckage. The two men and Dhaiti?s fiancé were able to extract Dhaiti from the car, though she was semi-unconscious.

?The heat and the smoke [was] just so tremendous,? Lucci says. ?I couldn't stay there for a long period of time. I would go in, he would go in.?

It was so smoky Lucci and Sturiale say they didn?t realize Dhaiti?s daughter Tyra was in the backseat.

?Knowing the fact that I couldn't do anything, breaks my heart,? Lucci says.

Dhaiti is in critical condition at Stony Brook University Hospital. Her fiancé and the couple in the car that rear-ended Dhaiti were treated and released from area hospitals.