Two California Highway Patrol officers were burned when a disabled car caught fire on northbound Interstate 215 in Moreno Valley Sunday afternoon, according to the San Bernardino Sun's account. The blaze broke out shortly after 3 p.m. near the transition to the 60 Freeway, and both officers were taken to a hospital. Officials have not said what triggered the fire.
The San Bernardino Sun reported that a 2007 Toyota Camry stalled in the freeway lanes after its driver experienced unspecified difficulties, citing CHP spokesman Officer Javier Navarro. The driver and a friend pushed the car onto the right shoulder as two CHP units arrived, the outlet reported.
According to the Sun, the officers were near the unoccupied Camry and speaking with the driver when it suddenly caught fire. Both were burned; the motorist and his friend were not injured. Riverside County Fire Department crews arrived within a few minutes and extinguished the blaze before it spread to nearby vegetation.
Officers Treated at Riverside Hospital
The officers were taken to Riverside University Medical Center. CHP said they were expected to fully recover without long-term complications. Neither officer has been identified by name; Navarro provided the agency's account of the incident.
Reports differ on how many officers were injured and on the extent of their injuries. The Sun reported that two officers were burned, while Officer.com reported that at least one CHP officer suffered minor injuries. The accounts' discrepancy has not been resolved.
Driver Booked on Suspicion of DUI
The Sun reported that the Camry's driver was booked into Robert Presley Jail on suspicion of DUI and that his friend was not arrested. MyNewsLA also reported, citing Navarro, that the driver was allegedly under the influence.
What national fire data can—and cannot—show
The U.S. Fire Administration estimated an annual average of 171,500 highway vehicle fires in the United States from 2014 to 2016. That historical average does not show changes over time or identify the cause of the Moreno Valley fire.
The fire's cause remains under investigation. Officials have not detailed what triggered it after the car was on the shoulder, and the available accounts do not resolve that question.
