TICONDEROGA, New York (From the Press-Republican) -- It took more than two hours for rescue personnel to extricate the seriously injured driver of a tractor-trailer that crashed Tuesday morning.

Frank J. Pasqua, who is in his fifties, was airlifted by North Country Life Flight helicopter to University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington.

The hospital's communications office listed the East Stroudsburg, Pa., man's condition as critical on Tuesday night.

"It was the longest extrication I've ever been part of," Ticonderoga Fire Chief Matt Watts told the Press-Republican.

The challenge of saving the driver was compounded by fire that was consuming the trailer's load of paper, he added, which is hard to extinguish and spreads the flames when moved around.

"So we were battling smoke and fire the whole time," Watts said. "You can't even describe this accident; it's the worst I've ever seen."

Ticonderoga Police said the tractor-trailer was traveling west on State Route 74 when it exited the left shoulder, striking an earth embankment.

It was the only vehicle involved in the accident, which is still under investigation.

Essex County Emergency Services Director Don Jaquish said the tractor-trailer was carrying a load of paper from International Paper.

The tractor-trailer belongs to Logistics One Inc., based out of Saratoga Springs, Watts said.

The Ticonderoga and Chilson fire departments were called out to the accident shortly after 10 a.m. when a person who lives across the road heard the crash then reported it.

"It was a mess," Watts said, adding that paper was strewn about 300 feet down the road.

The load had blown out the front part of the trailer, apparently taking the cab off the frame, he explained.

Firefighters arrived to find the frame embedded about 10 feet into the side bank.

The front of the trailer, completely emptied of paper, was aflame, and the crushed cab had come to rest about 20 feet away from the frame, no longer attached to the trailer.

"From what we could tell, the front of the cab was facing back toward trailer, lying on its passenger side," Watts said.

After the driver was removed, Watts said, firefighters took a break to get replenished by their auxiliary and rehabbed by EMS personnel, who took their vitals.

They then "foamed everything down" and stood by while towers removed the tractor-trailer parts to ensure nothing would flare back up.

Watts did not know how the fire started.

Crown Point and Schroon Lake fire departments supplied tankers; Ticonderoga EMS, Schroon Lake EMS, the Lamoille Ambulance Service and the Essex County foam trailer also assisted.

The Essex County EMS Coordinator Patty Bashaw, Ticonderoga Police Department and State Police also responded.

The Moriah and Port Henry volunteer fire departments and Moriah, North Warren and Putnam EMS stood by, Essex County dispatchers said.

Route 74 was temporarily closed between Route 9N and Corduroy Road.

Watts said at least 30 first responders were at the crash site.

The departments were back in service at around 3:50 p.m.