Motorist escapes injury in car fire at Eagle Truck Stop

Andrew Dolph, The Times-Reporter
Updated ·1 min read
A motorist en route from Cleveland to Athens secures contents of his burning vehicle as firefighters remove remaining items, Tuesday, July 11 at the Eagle Truck Stop in New Philadelphia.
A motorist en route from Cleveland to Athens secures contents of his burning vehicle as firefighters remove remaining items, Tuesday, July 11 at the Eagle Truck Stop in New Philadelphia.

NEW PHILADELPHIA – A motorist en route from Cleveland to Athens intending on performing with his band at the Starwood Festival on Wednesday had to make an emergency stop in New Philadelphia mid-day.

A 2019 Hyundai Elantra is seen engulfed in flames at the Eagle Truck Stop, Tuesday, July 11 in New Philadelphia.
A 2019 Hyundai Elantra is seen engulfed in flames at the Eagle Truck Stop, Tuesday, July 11 in New Philadelphia.

According to the driver, he was southbound on Interstate 77 when his 2019 Hyundai Elantra starting smoking. He looked for the safest place to pull off, and ended up near the fuel pumps at the Eagle Truck Stop on 16th Street SW, in New Philadelphia.

Captain Matthew Graham of the New Philadelphia Fire Department helps to move the contents of a vehicle that caught fire and was subsequently extinguished in the parking lot of the Eagle Truck Stop, Tuesday, July 11 in New Philadelphia.
Captain Matthew Graham of the New Philadelphia Fire Department helps to move the contents of a vehicle that caught fire and was subsequently extinguished in the parking lot of the Eagle Truck Stop, Tuesday, July 11 in New Philadelphia.

The owner of the truck stop brought out multiple fire extinguishers to try and stop the fire to no avail. Along with bystanders, the driver of the burning car and truck stop owner helped to remove items from the car before flames spread. Most of the belongings of value were saved, according to the driver.

The driver of a 2019 Hyundai Elantra makes a phone call after his vehichle caught fire en route from Cleveland to Athens, and was subsequently extinguished by New Philadelphia firefighters at the Eagle Truck Stop, Tuesday, July 11 in New Philadelphia.
The driver of a 2019 Hyundai Elantra makes a phone call after his vehichle caught fire en route from Cleveland to Athens, and was subsequently extinguished by New Philadelphia firefighters at the Eagle Truck Stop, Tuesday, July 11 in New Philadelphia.

The New Philadelphia Fire Department was dispatched at 11:54, and arrived on scene within minutes, making quick work of the fire which had begun to spread into the interior of the car.

A cause of the fire was unknown at the time according to Captain Matthew Graham.

The New Philadelphia Police Department assisted with traffic control.

No injuries were reported.

T-R staff photographer Andrew Dolph can be reached via email at adolph3@gannett.com, or by phone at 330 289 6072.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Motorist escapes injury in car fire at Eagle Truck Stop