A quick-thinking bystander rescued a driver from a burning electric vehicle after a crash in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, on Tuesday, preventing what could have been a fatal incident. The accident occurred around 11:30 a.m. near Burbank Boulevard and Vineland Avenue, just outside the popular Circus Liquor store, when a Hyundai Ioniq collided with another vehicle before striking a power pole and igniting.

Tyler Hawara, the owner of Circus Liquor, described hearing the initial crash and witnessing the pole being ripped from the ground. “And then caught on fire about two or three minutes later,” he said, noting that a customer from his store immediately ran to assist the trapped driver. Hawara captured cellphone footage showing the vehicle fully engulfed in flames.

Firefighters from the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived soon after and approached the electric vehicle cautiously due to the risks associated with EV batteries, using water from a safe distance to extinguish the flames. Despite the intensity of the fire, both victims sustained only minor injuries, thanks in large part to the heroic intervention of the good Samaritan.

The incident highlights both the potential hazards of electric vehicle crashes and the life-saving impact of immediate bystander action. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of the two-car collision, while emergency crews emphasize the importance of caution around EV fires due to the unique risks posed by battery combustion.