By Ethan Forman
DANVERS — Police have identified Kristina Vetree, 23, of 168 Summer St., Danvers, as the woman behind the wheel of a car that crashed into a tree and burst into flames at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday on Strawberry Hill Lane.
Before the 2003 Ford Focus became fully engulfed, Michael A. Scalia, 24, of 4 Strawberry Hill Lane ran out of his house barefoot and pulled her from the wreckage. Police credit Scalia's heroic actions with saving Vetree's life.
Police Sgt. Robert Bettencourt said Vetree's injuries did not appear to be life-threatening and the accident is still under investigation.
Lyons Ambulance took Vetree first to Beverly Hospital, and then she was taken to Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, where she was listed in "good" condition yesterday evening.
Police have also identified Patricia Gray, 66, of Peabody Court in North Reading as the driver and sole occupant of a Buick LeSabre that struck two telephone poles more than a mile apart on Route 62 around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. Gray's car wound up careening over a rock wall and landing on its roof in a horse paddock 100 feet from Berry Hall at Essex Agricultural and Technical High School.
Bettencourt described Gray's injuries as serious. A Beverly Hospital spokeswoman, Heather Jones, said she was treated and released. Beth Israel Hospital later listed her in "fair" condition.
State police accident reconstruction is investigating the accident along with Danvers police.
