Good Samaritans Rescue Northport Woman From Burning Car

A woman who was trapped in a burning car was rescued Sunday evening by three passing Good Samaritans, Suffolk County police said.

Tempestt Harris-Buckner was driving a 2021 Hyundai Elantra north on Bread and Cheese Hollow Road in Fort Salonga when she swerved to avoid an animal in the street just north of Pulaski Street at 5:57 p.m. The Hyundai struck a utility pole and both the pole and vehicle caught fire, trapping Harris-Buckner, police said.

Michael Susinno of Northport and John McPartland were in the area at the time of the crash and pulled Harris-Buckner from the vehicle and across the street as the vehicle became fully engulfed. They were joined by a third Good Samaritan, Michel Pitre, of Commack, who used one of the men’s belt to create a tourniquet on the woman’s leg.

Harris-Buckner, 33, of Northport, was transported via ambulance to Stony Brook University Hospital where she is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.