This dramatic picture was snapped by Brett Pias last night, who happened to be in downtown Niantic when a car burst into flames.
It happened on Thursday at about 10:10 p.m. East Lyme Fire Marshal Richard E. Morris said the driver of a 1997 Chrysler Sebring was having trouble with the car's transmission when he noticed smoke coming from around the radio in the dashboard.
The driver pulled over into the parking lot at 22 Pennsylvania Avenue and called 911. Both the driver and a passenger were able to get safely out of the vehicle before it burst into flames.
Morris said it took East Lyme's fire department about 15 minutes to put out the fire, which destroyed much of the passenger side of the vehicle. The fire was contained to the vehicle. No one was hurt.
I saw the ruts through the yard Saturday morning and was wondering what had happened. Did you contact the East Lyme police dept or decide that it wasn't worth it? I didn't file a full report on my break in, but did let them know that an incident had happened so that they are aware.