Quick thinking and bravery on the part of a young man in the aftermath of a car accident possibly saved a woman’s life.

An accident on Caesar Road on Tuesday occurred next to the Hidden Hills subdivision entrance, involving a single car that apparently left the road and hit a tree, said Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department Chief Investigator Donnie Saucier.

Carolyn Macon, 55, of Picayune appeared to have missed the curve, left the road and struck the tree, Saucier said.

Mark Desjardin, 25, of Picayune was the first one person on the scene. He saw flames coming from the car and noticed Macon was unconscious in the driver’s seat.

“He did his duty as a responsible citizen and rescued the lady from the burning vehicle,” Saucier said.

Responding patrol deputy Van Giadrosich said witnesses said that Desjardin pulled Macon from the burning car and took her to safety. The fire burned the car from front to back. Giadrosich said that Macon could have been seriously injured or possibly killed had Desjardin not come to her aid.

An off-duty deputy, Chuck Lawther, also came upon the accident and used his first responder training to assist Macon with her injuries, Giadrosich said.

“He’s one of the new guys the sheriff hired. I think he’s going to do real good,” Giadrosich said.

Sheriff David Allison said he commends the good deed performed by Desjardin and is pleased to know there are young people who will step up to do what is right.

“The lady would have burned up in the vehicle had he not put his life on the line to protect her,” Allison said.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation but alcohol and drugs are not suspected.