Car Catches Fire in Lake Worth, Injuring 5

Witness says car became engulfed in flames within seconds

A car fire in Lake Worth injured at least five people on Wednesday night, according to police and emergency responders.

The vehicle burst into flames at Loop 820 and Azle Avenue at about 8:15 p.m. Five people were in the car, according to MedStar EMS.

Four men and one woman in their mid-20s were taken to Parkland Hospital with burns on 30 to 65 percent of their bodies, MedStar said. Four of the patients were airlifted to the hospital.

Erick Moya, a witness who called 911, told NBC 5 that he saw the car come to a stop right before the inside of the vehicle caught fire. It became engulfed in fire so quickly that flames were outside of the car within seconds.

Moya said he saw four people run out of the car on fire. One man was completely engulfed in flames, and another man's arms were on fire. A woman had fire from her foot to the middle of her back, he said.

The man who was engulfed in fire and the woman tried to put out the fire by rolling around in a nearby grassy area, causing the grass to ignite, Moya said.

Moya said he smelled an unusual odor that was not smoke.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

NBC 5 will update this story with more information as soon as it's available. As this story is developing, elements may change.

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