Car Catches Fire In Early Morning Crash

by KDLT News
January 06, 2013 9:54 AM


According to the Sioux Falls Police Department, around 1:30 Sunday morning officers were dispatched to Cook Rd and S. Cliff Ave in Sioux Falls for an injury accident.Metro Communications advised that one of the vehicles involved was on fire. 

Upon arrival responding officers found two Ford Explorers involved in the crash.  One was resting alongside an Excel Energy power pole and was fully engulfed in flames.  The power pole had also caught fire.  The  driver was laying some distance from the car with burns to her arms and stomach. 

The second Explorer was very close to the flames and it was feared it would also catch fire.  The driver, who was still behind the wheel, was removed from the car by responding officer’s. The second driver sustained a broken pelvis, femur, and ankle in the crash.  Both drivers were taken to Avera McKennan Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.  

Through the preliminary investigation it was learned that the first vehicle had been northbound on Cliff Ave turning left onto Cook Rd.  The second vehicle had been southbound on Cliff Ave at a high rate of speed.  As the first vehicle was making it’s turn it  was struck broad side by the second vehicle.  The first vehicle was then pushed into a power pole south of the intersection and caught fire. 

The investigation is still ongoing and updates will be given at the regular press briefing on Monday, January 7th, 2013.