THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEN WHO RESCUED THE WOMAN.

NAPA COUNTY, Calif. – Good Samaritans are being credited with saving a San Francisco woman from her vehicle after it caught fire as the result of a Saturday afternoon crash.

Darcelle Chatoian, 45, was semiconscious and seriously injured when the passersby pulled her from the burning SUV, according to a report from the California Highway Patrol.

The two men who saved her life are 38-year-old Peter Hart of Clearlake and 32-year-old Ryan Perez of Napa, according to Napa CHP Officer Jaret Paulson.

In the process of the rescue, Perez injured his leg, Paulson said.

At 4:50 p.m. Saturday Chatoian was driving her 2004 Food Explorer southbound on Highway 29 over Mount St. Helena, just inside Napa County, according to Paulson's report.

For reasons which Paulson said are still under investigation, Chatoian failed to negotiate a lefthand curve, allowing her vehicle to travel onto the north shoulder where she collided with a tree.

After she hit the tree, Chatoian's vehicle caught fire, Paulson said. At that point, Chatoian was still seat-belted and semiconscious in the driver's seat.

Paulson said Hart and Perez put themselves at risk during the rescue. Perez kicked out the driver's window – injuring his leg – so they could pull Chatoian from the fire that would have killed her.

Chatoian was transported by REACH air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with major injuries.

The CHP reported that Highway 29 had been closed for a time as first responders worked at the scene and the tow company arrived to remove Chatoian's vehicle.

Traffic control was conducted for approximately two hours in the area of the collision, Paulson said.

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