A Lancaster teenager was critically injured early Tuesday in a fiery head-on crash in Chester County, police said.

In the same wreck, a Strasburg man avoided serious injury when he crawled out of his sport utility vehicle before it burst into flames.

Lancaster's Micah Berthold was driving a Volkswagen Jetta that collided with the GMC sport utility vehicle just after midnight on Route 41 in Highland Township, about five miles east of Lancaster County.

State police said the Jetta was traveling south and veered into the northbound lane, striking the GMC on the front driver's side.

Medics and firefighters worked at the scene to save Berthold's life before he was taken by helicopter to Lancaster General Hospital. The 18-year-old was in critical condition Tuesday night, according to a nursing supervisor at LGH.

After the impact, the SUV overturned and came to rest in a field, where it burst into flames. The driver, 36-year-old David Prange of Strasburg, escaped the SUV before it became "engulfed" in fire, police said.

Prange was treated at the scene for minor injuries. He was wearing a seat belt.

Berthold was not buckled up, according to state troopers.

Both vehicles were totaled in the early morning crash.

Police said they were investigating what caused the Jetta to veer into opposing traffic.

E-mail: bhambright@lnpnews.com