TITUSVILLE, Fla. — Officers on Thursday evening rescued a 44-year-old New Jersey man from a burning vehicle, the Titusville Police Department said.
"At one point, the fuel tank ruptured and there was a geyser of flames," said neighbor Don Conover.
Phillip Thistle was driving his rental car north on South Washington Avenue at a high rate of speed at about 9 p.m. when he veered onto Riveredge Drive, crashing the rented Toyota SUV he was driving into a concrete barrier, police spokeswoman Amy Matthews said.
Thistle, 44, was able to escape from the vehicle, which rolled over several times during the crash, but he collapsed a few feet away from the burning wreckage, Matthews said.
“Officers quickly located Thistle and pulled him to safety as the vehicle exploded,” she said.
Thistle, who was seriously injured, was flown to a hospital for treatment. He's expected to recover, police said.
"They don't give it a second thought. They rush into danger when everyone's rushing out. We're so proud of them, just to get that victim to safety was their number one priority," Matthews said.
The crash remains under investigation.