Man Dies After Good Samaritans Pull Him From Smoking SUV

EASTPORT, NY — Despite a team of good Samaritans who pulled him from an SUV seconds before it burst into flames, a Babylon man involved in an Eastport crash Monday has died, police said.

According to Suffolk County Police, Matthew Hillebrand, 47, died in the hospital after the crash, which took place at 2:50 p.m. on County Road 51 and County Road 111.

Hillebrand was driving a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe southbound on County Road 51 when he apparently lost control of his vehicle, veered off the road, struck a metal utility pole and caught on fire at approximately 2:50 p.m.; the fire spread quickly, police said.

Passing motorists, including a member of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, pulled Hillebrand from the burning car, police said. Hillebrand was transported via Suffolk County Police helicopter to Stony Brook University Hospital where he was initially listed in critical condition, police said.

The Hyundai was impounded for a safety check, police said.

The community applauded the hero good Samaritans who pulled Hillebrand, who was unconscious, from the burning SUV, according to the Suffolk County Sheriff's office.

According to a post on the Suffolk County Sheriff's office Facebook page, Lieutenant Salvatore Petrone was driving his unmarked sheriff's vehicle south on County Road 51 in Eastport when he saw a black Hyundai SUV Santa Fe that veered off the roadway and crashed into a utility pole.

Lt. Petrone immediately responded to the crash where he assessed the scene; he realized that the sole occupant of the SUV, a man, must be removed from the vehicle without delay as smoke began to fill the vehicle's cabin, officials said.

With the help of five good Samaritans who stopped to help, the group was able free the man's trapped legs and pull him out of the car to safety just seconds before the vehicle became fully engulfed by the fire, the Suffolk County Sheriffs office said.

The driver was transported to the hospital by East Moriches Ambulance; the car fire was extinguished by the Eastport Fire Department, sheriffs said.

"Please join Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMarco and and the members of the Sheriff's Office in recognizing the fearless and courageous efforts of Lt. Petrone and everyone involved today, the post Monday read.

Patch file photo.