NEENAH, Wis. (WFRV) - Many people are calling a Neenah man a hero after he saved two people from a fiery car crash on Monday night. It all began when Tanner Ater said he heard a loud banging sound and ran outside his apartment to see what had happened. Neenah police officers said a vehicle had taken out a fire hydrant, went down an embankment, and hit a tree in the 1300 block of Gillingham Road. "I saw a car sitting on its side and a lady screaming for help so instantly I ran back inside, put on my snow gear, grabbed my phone, hopped into my tow truck, and hauled over to her," said Ater. Free Tubing Day returns to Ariens Hill in Titletown on Feb. 16 Ater could see the car from his apartment but said a fence forced him to have to get in his car to make it to the crash scene. He said he used a fire extinguisher to put out flames coming from the car's engine and then helped a woman down from atop the car which was on its side. He had to battle through thick smoke to do all of this. The job wasn't done yet though. "I got the wife off, but the main one was the husband (who was still inside the car), flames were starting to re-engulf the car," he said. "I was worried I wasn't going to get him out in time but thank God the cop (a Winnebago County sheriff deputy) got on scene when he did because without his help I wouldn't have gotten him out." In a news release, Neenah police department officials said it was about -8 degrees outside when Ater and the first responders made the rescue. "I didn't have gloves on and my hands were almost frostbite," Ater told Local 5 News in an interview on Tuesday. "At that point in time, I didn't think of anything else to grab. Just wanted to get out there and rescue them because I saw smoke come from the car." Neenah police officers tell Local 5 News that both people in the car went to the hospital for treatment. They said the female passenger had been released, but as of Tuesday night, the male driver still remained in the hospital with unknown injuries. Officers tell Local 5 News that they don't know what caused the crash but have ruled out any kind of operating while intoxicated offense. Local truck driving instructor discusses how semi-drivers are handling extreme cold in Wisconsin "Every one of us wishes that somebody would be right there to have our backs to get us out of a dangerous situation," said Neenah police department community policing coordinator Joe Benoit. "That's exactly what Tanner did and we're really grateful for his actions."  Benoit said the best thing that any person can do when they witness a crash or other emergency is to make sure they call 9-1-1. He said he's thankful that Ater went even a step beyond that and says the department has nominated him for a 'Life Saving Award for Citizens.' "It's the type of response that we would hope that any individual, any passerby, any able-bodied person would lend a hand in a time of need," Benoit said. Ater said it felt good to be able to help the two people in the car crash. He said he does feel like a hero and has received dozens of messages from people thanking him for his actions. He said he never did this for recognition though. "I'm hoping that this will inspire a lot of people to get out and help, don't be afraid," he said. "It's scary getting into a situation like that but if you're willing to put your life on the line to help somebody it's the best feeling in the world."