The Minnesota State Patrol credits a rural Malmo man for saving a life after a recent crash on Dec. 7, in Aitkin County.

Trooper Kevin Skalsky reports that 21-year-old Kelly Stave from Verndale was driving eastbound on State Highway 18 a mile and a half west of Malmo when she swerved to miss a deer and crossed over the oncoming lane of traffic where she went into the ditch and crashed into a tree about 300 feet from the Roy Berg home.

Roy Berg said, "I was just outside letting the dog out and heard the crash. When I looked, I saw flames popping out from the vehicle and heard a woman yelling for help."

"I hollered for my wife to call 911 for a car crash, and then I ran to the crash." Stave had been wearing her seat belt and air bags had deployed, but she was still seated behind the wheel because the driver's door would not open and she had a lower leg and ankle injury and smoke was starting to fill the passenger compartment.

Berg said, "I tried to open the door but it would not open. I asked the driver how much gas was in the tank and she told me that it was pretty much full, so I helped her out on the passenger side of the vehicle and across the road."

Within just a very short time, the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames, Berg said.

Berg attended to Stave until rescue personnel took over.

"First responders were there right away because they were having a meeting nearby when the call came in," Berg said.

Trooper Skalsky responded to the scene and investigated the crash. Aitkin Area Fire & Rescue assisted at the scene along with Aitkin County deputies.

S t ave was transported by ambulance to Riverwood Medical Center in Aitkin where she was admitted and treated for a broken leg, cuts, scrapes and bruises.

Berg played the scenario down in a humble fashion but Skalsky was quick to note that, "If Berg had not removed Stave from the vehicle than this crash would have surely turned fatal."

Berg later told state Patrol Sgt. Curt Mowers that, "You have to do what you have to do, and that is all I did."

Kelly's parents Wayne and Sheila Stave agree with Kelly and the state patrol that she was saved by the belt and the air bag initially, and then by Berg's heroic actions.

In speaking to the Stave family, Mowers, the State Patrol public information officer said "The whole family expressed extreme gratitude toward Berg as well as trooper Skalsky and all of the rescue personnel."

The state patrol also encourages motorists to never swerve left or across lanes of traffic to avoid animals or objects on the road, and to always buckle up.