Bystanders pull men from burning car

ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - A fiery crash in St. Petersburg left one person dead and two others seriously injured.

Tuesday morning, just after 1:30 a.m., St. Petersburg Police say a car lost control on a curve on 54th Avenue South near 41st Street. The car left the road, hit two palm trees in the median, flipped and caught on fire.

Police say a passenger, 35-year-old Carlos Garrison died on impact. Another passenger, 37-year-old Steed Garrison and the driver, 39-year-old Tron Morgan suffered serious injuries.

The survivors were trapped inside as flames grew.  If it wasn't for a few quick-moving bystanders, the situation could have ended with three fatalities.

Cameron Heres initially thought it was a brush fire. Then, he realized it was a fight for survival.

"I hopped out and ran to the car, I got to the passenger side which is on the left because the car was flipped," Heres said. "I couldn't get that door open, so, I go to the driver's side. Luckily, his door was open. I reach over him, unhooked his seat belt, put him on his back and pulled him away from the car."

When officers arrived, they helped push the vehicle and remove Steed Garrison.

"The gentleman who was in the passenger's seat when I first got there he kept saying, he was saying, get me out of this car, get me out of this car," Heres said.

Heres also remembered the words Morgan was saying. "He kept reiterating, a-l-i-v-e, a-l-i-v-e. Like, stay alive, I'm gonna stay alive," Heres said.

Heres can still feel the heat from the flames. But, he said he'd do it again in a heartbeat.

"Fight or flight. Survival instinct kicked in," Heres said. "If people need help, you help them. No matter what race. No matter what ethnicity. It doesn't matter. That's what the world needs. You see somebody in need and you help them."

Investigators believe alcohol may have played a role in the crash. They say charges are pending.