Randy Calhoun did not have to think - he just reacted.

The Union Springs resident was traveling with his family to Corning when they came upon an accident scene Saturday morning on Route 34B in Genoa, just outside the hamlet of King Ferry. He saw a teenager unconscious in a burning vehicle and immediately entered the car to pull him out.

His actions may have saved Dennis N. Nardi's life.

"I did for him what I hope and expect someone would do for me," Calhoun said.

Nardi, 17, of Route 90 in King Ferry, was in critical condition Saturday night at University Hospital in Syracuse.

Cayuga County Sheriff's Office accident investigators determined Nardi's two-door car struck a four-door car driven by Marjorie N. Gulbe, 87, of Atwater Road in King Ferry. She was listed in serious condition at the same hospital.

Both were flown by helicopter from the accident scene to the hospital.

Nardi was driving south on Route 34B, just north of the intersection with Route 90 and Gulbe was heading north on the same road, Sheriff Rob Outhouse said. Nardi's vehicle collided with Gulbe's in the northbound lane, forcing Gulbe's car into a ditch on the side of the road.

Investigators were trying to determine Saturday why Nardi's vehicle was in the northbound lane. Calhoun, 40, arrived at the scene around 8:25 a.m.

He said he was able to wake Nardi up and then get him out of the car. Nardi initially responded to Calhoun that he did not want to move because of his injuries.

"I told him, 'I know you're hurt, but you can't stay in here,'" Calhoun said. Shortly after the two were safely out of the vehicle, it was engulfed in flames.

"This very heroic, humanitarian deed by Randy Calhoun probably saved this guy's life," Outhouse said.