Good Samaritan pulls driver from vehicle as electric car erupts in flames after North Hollywood crash, witness says

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES () — An electric vehicle slammed into a power pole and erupted in flames in North Hollywood on Tuesday.

The incident was reported as a two-car crash around 11:30 a.m. near Burbank Boulevard and Vineland Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department — right outside of the popular Circus Liquor store.

AIR7 video from above the scene captured the intense flames torching the vehicle.

“Hyundai Ionic sideswiped the pole, completely ripped the pole out of the ground,” said Tyler Hawara, the owner of Circus Liquor.

Hawara says he quickly ran out of his business after hearing the boom from the crash. He says the Hyundai Ionic collided with another vehicle before slamming into the power pole.

“And then caught on fire about two or three minutes later,” he recalled.

Hawara says a customer in the liquor store rushed to the aid of the injured driver before his vehicle was consumed by flames.

“The driver was actually in the car, so they had to pull him out,” Hawara said, noting that he believes the driver would have died if it weren’t for the good Samaritan.

He captured cellphone video of the vehicle consumed by the flames. Soon after, firefighters arrived.

Fire crews say the burning car was an electric vehicle, forcing them to keep their distance due to the risk posed by the battery. AIR7 video shows firefighters dousing the flames with water from a distance.

Miraculously, the two victims only suffered minor injuries.