A routine test drive turned dangerous Sunday when a vehicle caught fire less than a mile from a local dealership, leaving a Rossville woman and her daughter scrambling to escape.
Marie Woods had just left the parking lot of M&R Motors after selecting a Volvo she intended to purchase when the vehicle began smoking shortly after entering the roadway. Within moments, flames and smoke were reported coming from the dashboard area as the situation quickly escalated.
Woods was able to pull the vehicle over, but the fire intensified inside the car, particularly on the passenger side where her daughter, Leonna Tutt, was seated. Tutt initially had difficulty exiting the vehicle due to a locked door and was forced to climb across the interior to escape. Woods also experienced a brief delay getting out when her seatbelt did not immediately release.
Both occupants ultimately made it out of the vehicle without serious injuries.
A passerby stopped to assist and attempted to put out the flames using a personal fire extinguisher, but the fire continued to spread, destroying the vehicle.
A representative from the dealership later arrived at the scene. According to Woods, the interaction that followed was contentious, leaving her dissatisfied with the response.
In a statement to WRCB-TV, M&R Motors acknowledged the incident and said the dealership is thankful no one was seriously injured. The company indicated it is reviewing what happened and working with its insurance provider to address the situation.
Emergency responders from Walker County and Rossville were contacted for additional details as the investigation into the cause of the fire continues.