Metal band rescues pair from flaming wreck on way home from gig

Two members of a metal band who were driving home from a gig saw a car spin out of control, hit a post and explode, so they jumped in to rescuethe occupants after all, their band is serendipitously namedUtility Provider.

"We were singing Tragically Hip at the top of our lungs in the fast lane after a great show and I see a car coming up behind me and it was coming really fast. He blew by us," said Dan Wakefield, the band's bassist.

"We could feel the wind from his car push my car out of the way and he couldn't re-correct and spun out in front of us and hit a street lamp and the car exploded.

"I dodged out of the way of the lamp pole and shrapnel that came down and went through this big cloud of smoke," said Wakefield, who was the band'sdesignated driver that night.

When the smoke cleared they sawthe car tumbledown the Trans-Canada Highwaymedian, then burstinto flames in Surrey, B.C.

There was a bunch of booms, bangs and flames ... it was the craziest night of my life.- Drummer Chris Lang, Utility Provider

Adrenaline-fuelled drummerChris Langran to the car to help.

He says henoticed the crumpleddriver-side door was "miraculously" open.

Hepried it open furtherto let the"bloodied and shaken"young couple escape the dangerous fiery wreck.

"I had to help them out but they actually got on their feet ... they collapsed 20 feet away," said Lang.

"It was the craziestnight of my life ... there was a bunch of booms, bangs and flames. It would have unfortunately took [sic] their lives. Quite an inferno."

Bystanders areconvinced the pairwould have died in the car which was engulfed in flameswithin minutesbefore it was extinguished around 2 a.m.PT.

"It was about a 15-footinferno," said witness Cody Wright, who pulled over after he saw the crash.

"I was in shock, I had never seen such a huge explosion at all."

The survivors were taken to hospital.

"They were actually in pretty good shape for how the car looked ... if it were a movie it would have taken six months of work with thousands of people to make that shot," said Wakefield, who is eager to know how the pair is doing.

"They were beat up, but they literally walked away from that," said Wakefield, who marvelled at his bandmate's bravery, as he screamed to the911 operator.

"I honestly thought it was going to be [blown] to bits and pieces.Chris has been drinking so he was a little more brave than me ... he was right in there!" said Wakefield.

The injured young woman and man,estimated by witnesses to be in their20s,were taken to hospital. Police say their injuries are serious. Rescuers were not hurt.

As an aside the band is looking for a vocalist, if anybody wants to be part of a progressive metal band, with hardcoreheart.