Two men in serious condition after car hits tree, sparking fire in bushland, near Bathurst

A man has dragged two people from a burning car after it smashed into a tree in the state’s central west, sparking a scrub fire in surrounding bushland.

NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the men. Picture: Thomas Lisson

Two men have been dragged from a burning car after it smashed into a tree in the state’s central west, setting surrounding bushland alight.

A man from a neighbouring property at Rock Forest, 20km northwest of Bathurst, found the pair and hauled them out of the vehicle after it hit a tree and caught fire.

Police said the man had taken the pair, believed to be 19 and 62, to a nearby home and provided first aid.

Paramedics, who were called to the scene about 12pm, treated both men for serious burns before both were airlifted to hospital in Sydney in a serious condition.

The older man was airlifted from the scene on Ophir Rd, while the younger of the pair was initially taken to Bathurst Hospital by road ambulance.

While members of the local Rural Fire Service brigade managed to extinguish the scrub fire, police said the car had been “destroyed”.

Police are now investigating the incident.

Originally published as Two men in serious condition after car hits tree, sparking fire in bushland, near Bathurst