A car crash early Monday morning killed one person and left another critically injured, police say.

The crash happened around 3:40 a.m. on Kings Highway between Snyder and Tilden avenues. Police say the vehicle was driving northbound when it struck the center median and hit a light pole.

Police say both the driver and the passenger had to be cut out of the mangled car that was wrapped around the pole on Kings Highway at the corner of East 56th Street.

Police say the 30-year-old male passenger has been pronounced dead. They say the driver, a 25-year-old man, is in critical condition.

Earl Brewster lives on the corner and looked out the window as soon as he heard the crash.

"An ambulance happened to be coming down the street at the same time. Luckily that gentleman got out and extinguished," says Brewster.

Surveillance video shows the ambulance pulling up and jumping in action. The EMT and his partner both work for Assist Ambulance Service and just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

The FDNY arrived shortly after and was able to help as the fire started up again, quickly growing in size with the driver and passenger still inside the car.