Two good Samaritans saved a Mount Sinai man from a burning SUV Wednesday, police say.
Paul Gross, 53, had a medical emergency and crashed into a tree on Townline Road in Hauppauge, according to police. The impact knocked him out, and his car caught fire.
Volunteer firefighter Stephen Matteo heard the crash from his home, ran to the scene and flagged down driver Edmund Quinones. Police say they pulled Gross out of the vehicle and revived him.
Quinones says the first attempt to revive the driver didn't work, but they were successful after trying again. He says the whole car was engulfed in flames 30 seconds later.
Another hero, 19-year-old Briana Stettner, is credited with standing at the intersection and stopping traffic.
Quinones says they didn't think twice about risking their lives to save the life of a stranger.
"There's no better feeling than to be able to help out a Long Islander," he said.
Gross is recovering at Stony Brook University Hospital and is expected to be OK.