Video shows driver's rescue after car crashes into business, catches fire in Dallas
Surveillance video shows a car flipping through the air before crashing into a far North Dallas business early Monday morning. The driver escaped from the vehicle with help from two other people before the car caught fire.
All three left the scene before police arrived, authorities said.
Dallas Fire-Rescue was called to the reported vehicle fire at Wayne Motors in the 12800 block of Dickerson St. just after 2 a.m. Monday.
Business owner Jason Wright said he has operated the repair shop for more than a decade, but the crash still caught him by surprise.
"I thought I was dreaming," Wright said. "I literally was. My son says, 'That's got to be AI. That can't be real.'"
In the surveillance video, a car engine revs and tires squeal before it crashes through a raised fence and slams into the building.
A second vehicle stopped on the road, two people jumped out, ran to the crashed car and helped the person climb out of the window of the car as a fire ignited under it.
DFR said it's not clear how much damage was done to the building, but firefighters were able to quickly put out the fire.
The crash scattered pieces of the vehicle around the property and damaged a railing, melted plastic and knocked a section of brick from the building's exterior.
"It was like an explosion," Wright said. "There were just so many car parts."
Police said everyone seen in the surveillance video left before officers arrived. No arrests have been made.
It was not immediately clear how fast the vehicle was traveling or what caused the crash.
Wright said he has seen other serious crashes along the street and believes speeding may be a factor.
"There's definitely a lot of speeders going up and down," he said.
Despite the damage, Wright said he is grateful the driver survived.
"I'm just glad he's good," Wright said. "I really don't want to hear somebody getting burned in their car."
His message to drivers traveling through the area: Slow down.
