[imagesource: Facebook]

Yesterday, during peak morning traffic in Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal, a car engulfed in flames went careening through the streets and crashed into a petrol station.

Parents taking their kids to school and folks off to work were alarmed by the sight of the flaming vehicle as it rolled towards the most flammable pit stop in the vicinity.

Everyone in close proximity to the intersection of Richmond and Alexandra Road could be heard hooting, screaming and skedaddling out of the way, most likely before anyone had even had their first morning coffee.

Some (likely already caffeinated) witnesses managed to capture the drama on camera. The flames were so high that one could see the situation from about half a kilometre away:

Ladies and Gentlemen. Pietermaritzburg pic.twitter.com/UKWDu2URfC

— Bob (@TheChosenOne95_) February 8, 2023

Watch | A burning vehicle careened across a busy Pietermaritzburg intersection before crashing into a petrol station. @TimesLIVE pic.twitter.com/YRg8Jpg6na

— Nivashni Nair (@NivashniNair) February 8, 2023

The Witness reported:

Petrol attendants were desperately trying to beat the flames with their fire extinguishers while the fire truck was on its way, said a witness.

Image: Kwazulu Private Ambulance Service

Emergency workers at the scene said no one was injured, but the petrol station manager was taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.

The Kwazulu Private Ambulance Service was first on the scene, followed by fire and rescue services who extinguished the flames, notes IOL:

According to Shaheen Suleiman, the vehicle suffered an electrical fault.

Besides the petrol station manager, there were no other reported injuries.

Nothing has been said about the owner/driver of the flaming vehicle.

[sources:iol&witness]