One person was left in critical condition Friday night after a fiery crash in Southern Pines. The single-vehicle wreck occurred on Highway 1 North, just over the bridge past the Circle K.
When emergency crews arrived on the scene, they found a Chevy Tahoe down the embankment and on fire with the driver trapped inside.
Firefighters battled the blaze to reach the driver, but as they worked to free him, flames shot back up, and nearby fire crews continued to douse the flames with water.
It took crews 57 minutes to get the man out of the SUV, according to Southern Pines Fire Chief Mike Cameron.
A medevac was called but could not fly due to weather. He was loaded in an ambulance and rushed to FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital in critical condition.
The weather cleared shortly after, and the helicopter flew to FirstHealth, where he was flown to UNC Burn Center after being stabilized in the emergency department.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
The Southern Pines and Aberdeen fire departments, Moore County EMS, Southern Pines Police Department, and Rockwell Towing responded to the scene.
~Article, feature photo and video by Sandhills Sentinel Publisher B.J. Goodridge.
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