ADA — A volunteer firefighter from northwestern Minnesota made a grim discovery at a car crash — his teenage son was the victim.

Randy Peterson, a firefighter in Ada, was called Sunday night to a two-vehicle crash in Borup. Peterson had been unable to reach his 16-year-old son, Carter, as he raced to the scene. When he arrived, Peterson saw the car on fire and knew it was his son, who died at the scene.

Peterson said he dropped to his knees and was “a mess.”

Carter Peterson had dropped off his girlfriend and was headed home when he was broadsided by a pickup.

The other driver, a 20-year-old North Dakota man, was not seriously hurt. According to a press release, the State Patrol said alcohol was detected in his system.