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10 February 2023
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Flaming car runs into fuel station in Pietermaritzburg
Those who witnessed the high drama as a burning vehicle rolled straight into a petrol station in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday morning, 8 February 2023, said it was a miracle there wasn’t an explosion and that no one was injured. According to witnesses, a Toyota Etios caught fire at the traffic signal at the intersection of Alexandra Road and Alan Paton Avenue. The driver managed to stop the vehicle and jumped out with a woman and a child who were inside the car. Msunduzi Fire and Rescue’s CFO, Essack Khan said, “Crews responded with one major pumper with an officer, driver and four crew to a light motor vehicle alight”.
CFO Khan added, “The LMV was well alight on arrival of the Fire Department. Employees from the Sasol filling station used DCP extinguishers and hose reels to extinguish the fire. Fire fighters made the area safe and extinguished the fire using a main line. Response and extinguishment was within 10 minutes. No injuries were reported. The vehicle was totally burnt.”
Challenges faced were heavy traffic responding to the incident.
Videos of the incident showed the flaming vehicle then rolling down the slope, across the traffic lights and straight towards the Sasol service station on Alan Paton Avenue.
Allegations: driver told not to use car
The driver of the vehicle refused to comment when approached by The Witness. Sources alleged that the vehicle was being used by one of the e-hailing services. A voice note that circulated on WhatsApp, allegedly by the owner of the vehicle, said the driver was told not to use the vehicle because there were issues with its wiring. The person is heard saying that the driver used the vehicle to transport a child to school despite his warning.
KZN Private Ambulance staff said the manager of the service station was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation but had no injuries.
Petrol attendants who spoke to The Witness said they panicked when they saw the vehicle rolling towards the service station. “My first thought was the worry of an explosion and I ran but when I noticed that it had stopped and others were rushing to assist, I also went. It was, however, a scary moment because we were not sure how safe it was.”
Source: CFO Essack Khan, chief fire officer, Msunduzi Fire and Rescue, The Witness
CFO Khan added, “The LMV was well alight on arrival of the Fire Department. Employees from the Sasol filling station used DCP extinguishers and hose reels to extinguish the fire. Fire fighters made the area safe and extinguished the fire using a main line. Response and extinguishment was within 10 minutes. No injuries were reported. The vehicle was totally burnt.”
Challenges faced were heavy traffic responding to the incident.
Videos of the incident showed the flaming vehicle then rolling down the slope, across the traffic lights and straight towards the Sasol service station on Alan Paton Avenue.
Allegations: driver told not to use car
The driver of the vehicle refused to comment when approached by The Witness. Sources alleged that the vehicle was being used by one of the e-hailing services. A voice note that circulated on WhatsApp, allegedly by the owner of the vehicle, said the driver was told not to use the vehicle because there were issues with its wiring. The person is heard saying that the driver used the vehicle to transport a child to school despite his warning.
KZN Private Ambulance staff said the manager of the service station was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation but had no injuries.
Petrol attendants who spoke to The Witness said they panicked when they saw the vehicle rolling towards the service station. “My first thought was the worry of an explosion and I ran but when I noticed that it had stopped and others were rushing to assist, I also went. It was, however, a scary moment because we were not sure how safe it was.”
Source: CFO Essack Khan, chief fire officer, Msunduzi Fire and Rescue, The Witness
