Bethlehem

Two men from Brooklyn pulled a stunned father and son from a burning car just moments before it exploded in flames Saturday afternoon on Route 32, authorities said.

Elsmere Fire Chief Frank Wickham said there was "no question" that Ludwik Branach and Wieslaw Szczutowski saved the lives of Timothy Berry, 48, and his son as flames quickly consumed the car.

"They were in there sort of dazed. They were not coming out," Wickham said.

Branach was injured by broken glass as he and Szczutowski smashed the vehicle's windows to get Berry and his son out as flames quickly closed in on the passenger compartment, police said.

Branach and Szczutowski then dragged the victims from the vehicle moments before it was consumed, police said, risking serious injury to themselves.

Berry and his son escaped serious injury.

"It could have been a very bad day," Wickham said.

Berry, of Albany, and his son were trapped after their car rolled into a ditch and began to burn on the Delmar Bypass section of Route 32 at about 2:40 p.m., police said. Police said it appeared Berry had a medical problem before losing control of the car.

Berry and his son were carried away from the car and officers worked to keep the flames from spreading beyond the immediate area.

Firefighters put out the car fire.

Berry, a local attorney, was taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital where he was undergoing a medical evaluation Saturday.

Branach and Szczutowski were visiting the area but it was unclear if they remained here later Saturday.