Talk about being in the right place at the right time. 

Two crew members from NorCal Pipeline Services helped rescue a trapped driver from a burning vehicle on their way to a job site near Santa Ysabel, California, last month. According to the company’s blog, Nicholas Smith and Michael Conklin were driving a hydroexcavator on Route 78 in San Diego County on the morning of June 7 when a woman jumping up and down on the side of the road flagged them down.

When they slowed down, Smith and Conklin noticed two vehicles involved in a wreck. One of the vehicles was on fire with a screaming man trapped inside.

An off-duty fire captain who was already on the scene grabbed a fire extinguisher from the hydroexcavator and tried to put out the flames. The fire extinguisher wasn’t effective, so Smith and Conklin immediately pulled the truck closer to the burning vehicle. They took out the high-pressure wand and handed it to the fire captain, who was quickly able to put out the fire.

First responders used the Jaws of Life to free the man from the wreckage. He was then airlifted to UC San Diego Medical Center. The other victim was transported to nearby Sharp Memorial Hospital where she was treated for her injuries.

“If it weren’t for Nick, Michael and the hydroexcavator, it is highly likely that the man would have burned to death,” Kevin Bice writes on the company’s blog. “We are extremely proud of Nick and Michael, and thankful they not only were in the right place at the right time, but also that they stayed composed and were able to respond effectively in a such a high-pressure situation.”

Nor-Cal Pipeline Services has headquarters in Yuba City and Long Beach. Dubbed as the “California Pipeline Experts,” the company specializes in pipeline assessment, rehab and maintenance.

Source: NorCal Pipeline Services