'Jaws of Life' free driver after SUV crash

Firefighters needed the "Jaws of Life" to free a woman trapped in her sport utility vehicle following a high-speed crash on the Northern State Parkway in Dix Hills Tuesday.

State police and fire officials said the crash, which occurred at 8:20 p.m. at Exit 41, Wolf Hill Road, closed the eastbound road for more than an hour.

After being freed by volunteers from the Dix Hills Fire Department the woman, whose identity has not been released, was airlifted to Stony Brook University Medical Center by a Suffolk County police helicopter. Officials said she had non-life-threatening injuries.

Her condition was not known Wednesday.

Police said the woman was alert following the crash and told rescuers she was driving too fast and lost control -- striking a tree on the shoulder.

Fire officials said Dix Hills firefighters used the "jaws of life" and other heavy-rescue tools to remove the four vehicle doors, as well as the roof, in order to free the woman.

Officials said at least 35 volunteers, three fire department heavy rescue trucks, two ambulances and a first-responder paramedic unit were on scene.

The parkway was closed between Exits 41 and 42, Deer Park Avenue-Route 231.

It reopened at 9:36 p.m., police said.