A driver lost control of a car Wednesday evening on Highway 101 in Santa Maria – then the car went up in flames.
Witnesses reported the driver was cutting off other drivers and passing on the right-hand side of northbound Highway 101, then went off the road near the E. Donovan off-ramp shortly before 5 p.m.
Santa Maria firefighters are working a car fire under Alvin overpass in Santa Maria on HWY 101. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Traffic moving along fine. Lots of smoke @KSBY pic.twitter.com/HIdZ6CnNpy
— Megan Abundis (@meganrabundis) July 5, 2018
The driver then lost control and went over the side, according to the California Highway Patrol Traffic Incident Information Page.
The car caught fire in the crash, sending up heavy smoke seen across the city. The fire spread to bushes and a tree.
Fire crews were blocking two lanes on 101. The lane closure was reduced to one lane shortly before 5:30 p.m.
The driver was not injured. CHP is investigating the crash. Officers were interviewing the driver and working to speak with some of the witnesses in order to determine why he went off the road.
