AUGUSTA – What started out as opening day at the Legislature for Passamaquoddy Tribal Rep. Fred Moore escalated into a life-or-death experience Wednesday when the lawmaker found himself thrust into the role of first responder to a car fire on Interstate 95.

Moore was on his way to work at the State House a little after 10 a.m. when he encountered a 1989 Mercedes-Benz that had slammed into the back of a delivery truck. The car’s occupant, Peter Buotte, 39, of Augusta, was lodged against the steering wheel and unable to release his seat belt as his car’s engine burst into flames.

Moore, who has worked in law enforcement, was just about to get off the interstate at the Western Avenue exit when he noticed the accident two cars ahead of him. Springing into action, he and two other men were able to extract Buotte from the car while a truck driver doused the flames with a fire extinguisher.

“We had to do a lot of prying and pulling to bend the back of the seat down to get him out, and we ultimately got the fire out, which removed the immediate danger, but we had a hard time for a few moments,” Moore said.

With Buotte carried to the safety of the median strip, Moore saw no reason to delay his arrival at the State House and simply carried on with his day only to be singled out for his act of courage by Rep. Kevin Glynn, R-South Portland, from the floor of the House.

Maine State Trooper Tim Marks said Buotte’s situation could have been much more serious had he not received the assistance of Moore and others who volunteered their help. Marks said the accident took place when a truck operated by Todd Karczewski, 30, of Augusta pulled slowly on to the interstate from the breakdown lane. Buotte, he said, overestimated the truck’s speed and was unable to stop, crashing into the back of the truck.

“A good part of the car went underneath the truck, stopping just before the driver’s area,” Marks said.

Buotte suffered head and facial injuries and was treated at an Augusta-area hospital. Marks did not anticipate any charges would be filed in connection with the accident.