Washington State Patrol Trooper Keith Leary pickup truck and deuputy's patrol car slammed into each other head-on about 4:30 a.m.

The pickup truck burst into flames and the driver died at the scene.

Firefighters had to cut the deputy and a prisoner who was in the backseat from the mangled cruiser.

Medics flew James Headrick, the 35-year-old deputy, to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he was listed in stable condition, Leary said.

The prisoner was treated at an Everett hospital for minor injuries.

"The deputy and the occupant of his vehicle are extremely lucky," said Snohomish County Sheriff Lt. Rodney Rochon. "This very well could have been three fatals."

"Right now we have no idea who is at fault," Rochon said.

But state troopers suspect the pickup truck driver may have lost control.

"What we believe right now is that this truck somehow crossed over the center line and struck the deputy's vehicle," leary said.

The name of the driver who died has not been released.

Investigators shut down Highway 2 for several hours where the crash happened between Monroe and Snohomish.