Tragedy was averted Saturday morning when a passenger in a West Sacramento crash was able to escape from the vehicle just before it burst into flames, the California Highway Patrol reported.
The crash occurred at about 9:30 a.m. on westbound Highway 80 near Reed Avenue, where the driver of a Toyota sedan failed to notice slowing traffic and rear-ended a Cadillac, which was pushed forward into a Honda Civic in front of it, according to a CHP report.
The impact ruptured the Cadillac’s fuel tank, starting a fire in the vehicle that was occupied by four people, the CHP report said. Three people were able to get out of the car, but a fourth person was trapped inside.
“As attempts to break the right side windows were being made, the fourth occupant crawled over the front seats from the rear seat and she was pulled out of the vehicle through the driver’s side door,” the CHP reported. “The vehicle was subsequently consumed by fire.”
Only minor to moderate injuries resulted from the crash, which resulted in partial closures of the freeway’s westbound lanes until about 11 a.m., according to the CHP.