EAST GREENBUSH - A town police officer was able to rescue a crash victim just before the car went up in flames early Friday, police said.

Here's how the rescue unfolded, according to a police press release:

At about 12:45 a.m. a Third Avenue resident heard a crash outside his home and went outside to investigate. He saw a four-door Kia that had left Third Avenue Extension, traveled across the front lawns of several homes, crashed into a tree and started burning.

The resident flagged down Officer Trevor LaGrave, who was on patrol, and showed him where the car landed. LaGrave saw that the engine compartment was on fire and grabbed his cruiser's fire extinguisher. As he approached, he encountered an injured young man lying on the ground who said he was a passenger and that the driver was stuck inside.

LaGrave used the fire extinguisher, which briefly eased the flames. The driver was screaming that he couldn't get out. The driver's door was jammed.

The officer was able to open the rear driver's side door and from the back seat pulled the injured man up out of the driver's seat and out the back door.

Moments later, the Kia went up in flames.

Police said both occupants of the car and LaGrave were taken to Albany Medical Center. LaGrave was treated for smoke inhalation and released. The others, who were not named, were hospitalized.

The cause of the accident is under investigation; however excessive speed appears to be at least one factor, police said. No charges had yet been filed.

Assisting were the Bruen Rescue Squad, Clinton Heights Fire Department and police from Rensselaer, North Greenbush and Schodack. The street was closed for much of that morning.