GEORGE NEWS - "We're very lucky," gasped Carlin Buys, a passenger, who along with three other people, narrowly escaped serious injury or even death, after the car in which they were travelling burst into flames on the Outeniqua Pass on Tuesday.

Staring at the burnt-out shell of the car, Buys explained to the George Herald that he and three of his colleagues were on their way to Oudtshoorn for a meeting, when smoke started billowing into the Black Renault Megane through the dashboard.
"Luckily it didn't explode," exclaimed fellow passenger, Irsia Michaels, as firefighters used the jaws-of-life to open the boot to ensure the blaze had been totally extinguished.

The car's owner, Angeline Naidoo who was behind the wheel at the time of the incident, told the George Herald: "I'm not sure exactly what happened, but the vehicle suddenly stopped and smoke filled the car." Another passenger, Jan Adams, said a passer-by then alerted them to a fire which had broken out in the engine. The occupants of the Renault hastily alighted before the front of the car became quickly engulfed in flames.

Naidoo claimed she's had numerous problems with the Renault since she bought it in December. "But what happened today, I just don't know," Naidoo sighed before chuckling nervously.

* A Swart Renault Megane het Dinsdag op die Outeniquapas in vlamme uitgebars. Die vier insittendes kon betyds uitklim en is nie beseer nie.


A narrow escape - the car’s owner (far left, on her cellphone) Angeline Naidoo, with occupants Irsia Michaels, Carlin Buys and Jan Adams. The burnt-out wreck of the Renault Megane.

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS: REGAN THAW