What began as a late-night food run turned into a lifesaving rescue when three U.S. Marines and Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office deputies worked together to pull a driver from a burning vehicle in Burton.
On Monday, Nov. 9, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office recognized four individuals for their heroic actions during the Aug. 3, 2026, incident, presenting Life Saving Awards to Sergeant Isaac Ames, Corporal Nathan Armstrong and Corporal Caleb Crawford, all active-duty Marines stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, and BCSO Sergeant Daniel Oelschlager.
The incident unfolded just before midnight along Parris Island Gateway as the three Marines were returning from a late-night trip to Taco Bell. When they came upon a truck engulfed in flames at an intersection, they immediately stopped to help.
After learning from a bystander that the driver was still inside the burning vehicle, the Marines rushed to assist.
When deputies arrived, they found the Marines already working to rescue the trapped driver. As the fire intensified, the group worked to combat the flames while attempting to gain access to the vehicle.
The crash had left the doors inoperable, forcing the Marines and deputies to find another way to reach the driver.
Working together under increasingly dangerous conditions, they managed to pull the driver through the driver’s side window.
“Felt like a fireplace in August,” Cpl. Crawford said.
Once the driver was freed, the group worked to stabilize his head and neck. However, as the flames continued to spread, they were forced to move him farther from the burning wreckage to ensure his safety.
The rescue came down to seconds.
“If we hadn’t had help, it probably would have been about 30 more seconds and we wouldn’t have been able to get him out of the car because it would have gotten too hot and he would have perished,” Sgt. Oelschlager said.
Following the rescue, the Marines used their training to assist the driver until emergency medical personnel arrived.
For those involved, the magnitude of what had happened did not fully register until afterward.
“The excitement of it all didn’t hit until afterwards,” Cpl. Crawford recalled. “We sat at the kitchen table just kind of taking it all in on what all had happened.”
The Nov. 9 recognition ceremony honored the courage, quick thinking and teamwork demonstrated by the Marines and deputies, whose actions helped save a life.
Cpl. Armstrong also reflected on the importance of recognizing the deputies who routinely respond to dangerous and unpredictable situations.
“It definitely means a lot the deputies are getting recognized because this is an everyday thing for them. But it’s not every day that you have to pull someone out of their vehicle to save their life.”
For the Marines, the decision to stop and help was never about receiving an award.
“We didn’t do it to get the recognition. We did it because it was the right thing,” Cpl. Crawford said.
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office is proud to recognize these four individuals for their extraordinary courage, selflessness and commitment to protecting others. Their actions demonstrate the importance of teamwork between law enforcement and military personnel and the shared dedication to serving the Beaufort County community.
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