A Unionville volunteer firefighter inspects a car damaged in a crash Friday night on Route 1838 in Clay Township is loaded ed onto a wrecker. The driver, who was alone, was injured in the crash that left him trapped. West Sunbury and Unionville tire crews had to remove all the doors and the oof to get him out. He was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital.

Volunteer firefighters had to rescue a young man trapped in his car that crashed into a tree late Friday in Clay Township.

Franklin C. Elliott's head was pinned up through the sun roof in the Subaru Legacy that wrecked on Route 138 just east of McGregor Road shortly before midnight, said Dan Bunyan, chief of the West Sunbury Volunteer Fire Department.

“That made the rescue difficult,” Bunyan said. The sun roof was apparently open at the time of the crash.

West Sunbury and Unionville VFD crews had to use hydraulic tools to take off all four doors and the roof to remove Elliott, 21, of Butler.

He eventually was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital with moderate injuries. Police said they suspect Elliott was driving under the influence.

According to a police report, he was traveling east on Route 138, also known as Euclid Road, when he went off the right side of the road and into a tree.

He was conscious and alert when crews found him, Bunyan said, but he complained of pain to his right arm and left hip.

Once firefighters went to work with the rescue tools, it took about 15 to 20 minutes to get him out. He was placed in a neck brace before being removed.

A medical helicopter was initially requested but was unable to fly due to the weather. He was taken by Butler Ambulance Service to the hospital.