OAKLAND PARK, Fla. – A driver was killed after his car crashed into a Florida Power & Light utility pole and caught fire, the Broward Sheriff's Office confirmed.
The crash was reported about 6 a.m. Friday in the 2100 block of West Oakland Park Boulevard.
A witness said he was at a nearby bus stop when he saw a white car speeding.
"The car was coming down the intersection. It was speeding, so it jerked to the right a little bit, hit the median right there, and then tried to get right again, and then started skidding," said Bernardo Smith. "It flipped liked two or three times (and) slammed right into the pole."
Smith said the rear of the car caught fire and sparks were shooting down from powerlines.
Deputies said Kenny Allen, 40 was behind the wheel of a 2004 Honda Civic and was speeding down eastbound lanes when he lost control of the car.
Deputies said Allen struck a raised median, skidded across eastbound lanes and crashed into a tree before hitting the pole.
Smith said he saw the passenger, identified as Howard Randolph, 48, crawling out of the car, while Allen was stuck inside. He said the driver appeared to be unconscious.
"I'm speechless because it's my first time witnessing a crash like this," Smith said. "I just pray that the driver made it."
According to Smith, two responding Broward Sheriff's Office deputies helped pull Allen from the burning car and one performed CPR on him until paramedics arrived.
Allen and Randolph were both taken to Broward Health Medical Center where Allen was pronounced dead.
Deputies said Randolph suffered critical injuries in the crash.
The deputies who tried to rescue the driver were identified as Deputy Dustin Sisson, a 5-year BSO veteran, and Deputy Jonathan Zinglo, who has been with the BSO for less than a year.
Deputies said Sisson cut Allen's seat belt to remove him from the car. Zinglo performed CPR on Allen until he was relieved by Oakland Park Fire Rescue.
Zinglo was taken to Holy Cross Hospital after experiencing symptoms of heat exhaustion. He was released from the hospital a short time later.
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