GASTON – A Northampton County Sheriff’s Deputy can count his lucky stars for the quick action of a fellow law enforcement officer that saved his life.

Gaston Volunteer Fire Department Chief Ed Porter Jr. said in a statement that the deputy, Michael Sledge, was pulled from his patrol car just before it ignited after colliding Thursday evening with a tractor-trailer hauling lumber.

North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper T.D. “Bo” Forsht said the deputy was en route to an emergency call when the collision occurred shortly before 7:45 p.m. at the intersection of NC 46 and I-95 located between Gaston and Garysburg.

Forsht said an off-duty Emporia (VA) Police officer, Jerome Parker, and another man, whose name was not immediately available, were able to pull the Deputy from the patrol car and to safety just moments before the vehicle erupted in flames.

According to rrspin.com, Forsht was still investigating the accident and had called for a reconstruction team to assist in the investigation of the crash.

Porter said the patrol car burst into flames and set the lumber aboard the rig on fire.

Forsht said the lumber was damaged to the point it would most likely not be accepted at its destination in Gaston. The driver of the truck was shaken, but not injured, Forsht said.

The fire was quickly extinguished by firefighters, according to Porter. He added that the Deputy was assessed and treated by Gaston EMS and Northampton County EMS at the scene and then was transported by Northampton County EMS with non-life threatening injuries to Halifax Regional Medical Center.