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Bystanders help victims escape burning car after apparent tire blowout on I-15

Posted at 7:29 PM, Feb 28, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-29 09:50:11-05
A car catches fire following a rollover authorities said was likely caused by a tire blowout. Cedar City, Utah, Feb. 27, 2016 | Photo courtesy of UHP Trooper Bambi Baie, via St. George News / Cedar City News

A car catches fire following a rollover authorities said was likely caused by a tire blowout. Cedar City, Utah, Feb. 27, 2016 | Photo courtesy of UHP Trooper Bambi Baie, via St. George News / Cedar City News

CEDAR CITY, Utah — Five people were reportedly sent to a hospital Saturday afternoon when a vehicle rolled over on I-15 in the area of Cedar City and subsequently caught on fire, and authorities said bystanders helped the victims get out of the burning car.

St. George News reports the crash involved a vehicle traveling north in the area of milepost 53 around 2 p.m. Saturday, and the car went off the road, rolled and immediately caught fire after a tire blew out.

Trooper Bambi Baie of the Utah Highway Patrol told St. George News two female passengers complained of neck pain, and one of them suffered a broken arm. A male passenger was fitted with a neck brace, and the male driver had bruises but was alert and able to walk.

A car catches fire following a rollover authorities said was likely caused by a tire blowout. Cedar City, Utah, Feb. 27, 2016 | Photo courtesy of UHP Trooper Bambi Baie, via St. George News / Cedar City News

A car catches fire following a rollover authorities said was likely caused by a tire blowout. Cedar City, Utah, Feb. 27, 2016 | Photo courtesy of UHP Trooper Bambi Baie, via St. George News / Cedar City News

All four were taken to area hospitals. A baby was likewise transported, but only as a precaution. All five were reported to be wearing their seat belts.

Before emergency responders arrived, several people traveling in the area stopped to assist.

“It took two men to get the door bent open enough to get those people out of the car,” Baie told St. George News.

Visit St. George News for additional information and for more photos of the scene.