Late Saturday in Phoenix's Melrose District, a car slammed into a small auto shop on North 7th Avenue and erupted in flames, leaving the storefront badly charred and the owner stunned. Neighbors rushed toward the wreck and helped pull a man from the vehicle just before the flames took over. Fire crews moved in to extinguish the blaze, and police shut down the block while investigators processed the scene.
According to the owner, the shop's security camera captured the vehicle spinning out on 7th Avenue before it plowed into Denver's Car Care and ignited. "I literally felt like part of me died when I looked at this last night," owner Denver Davis told reporters as he surveyed the damage. The crash and surveillance footage were reported by Arizona's Family.
Occupants Fled; Man Hospitalized
Witnesses told police that the vehicle's occupants took off from the scene before officers arrived. A man was later found nearby with injuries and taken to a hospital, where authorities said he is expected to survive. Phoenix police said the crash occurred just north of Indian School Road and that the investigation remains active, according to ABC15.
Business Owners Demand Safety Changes
The fiery crash has reignited long-standing complaints from neighbors and business owners who say drivers regularly speed along the stretch where 7th Avenue curves through the Melrose District. Audrey Corley, who owns the nearby Boycott Bar, told ABC15, "It's dangerous, something has to be done." Merchants also pointed to a separate incident less than two weeks earlier in which a driver lost control and struck a patrol vehicle.
Investigation Ongoing
Phoenix police said any potential charges will be considered once their investigation is complete, and the owner said he is still sorting through repair needs and insurance options, as reported by Arizona's Family. Officials asked anyone with video or information about the crash to contact investigators so they can piece together exactly what happened.
