Warning after woman's car spontaneously erupts into flames
An Adelaide woman’s car has burst into flames while she was behind the wheel prompting a warning ahead of the holidays.
Deb Aberg was driving along Churchill Road, Kilburn on Thursday night when flames suddenly erupted from her steering wheel.
“I burnt my hand ‘cause first I thought I’d put the flames out, but then it just took hold,” she said.
“My whole car caught fire.”
Ms Aberg described the car as a “ticking time bomb” as it became engulfed in flames in a parking lot. Firefighters were called in to fight the blaze.
“They were fighting a losing battle,” she said.
Ms Aberg was involved in a minor crash earlier that day. She’d been told the car was safe to drive.
Drivers are now being warned to prepare before any road trips on the Christmas break reminding people to check any issues, despite being minor, are dealt with before hitting the road.
Mechanic Rick Rismondo said “any little dingle” should get checked out.
As for what caused Ms Aberg’s car to go up in flames he believes it could have been a battery dislodgement or a fuel leak.
“Obviously (with) a spark to ignite it,” he said.
Fortunately, Ms Aberg’s car was insured.
