A Maryland state trooper rescued a man from this SUV right before it burst into flames Wednesday afternoon in Prince George's County. (Photo: Maryland State Police)

BOWIE, Md.- A Maryland state trooper came to the rescue when he pulled a man out of his SUV just before it burst into flames Wednesday afternoon in Prince George’s County.

Maryland State Police said that shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday, Trooper Warren Thompson, who is assigned to the Forestville Barrack, was on patrol when he came across an SUV that had crashed on Maryland Route 214 and Church Road in Bowie.

According to investigators, the victim, a 66-year-old man, suffered a medical emergency when he hit a guardrail that subsequently caused the SUV's engine to catch fire.

Thompson was able to remove the man from the vehicle right before it erupted into flames, which police say saved the man's life.

Prince George’s County firefighters responded to the scene to extinguish the fire and transported the victim to University of Maryland Prince George’s Hospital Center for treatment of his injuries.

Police said the incident remains under investigation.

(Photo: Maryland State Police)

(Photo: Maryland State Police)