Barrier Daily Truth

Learner’s costly lesson as car goes up in flames

Tuesday, 7th February, 2012

DESTROYED: A 19-year-old learner driver bogged his father’s car which then caught fire.

A learner driver would have had some explaining to do after taking his father’s car for a spin only to watch in horror as it was destroyed by fire.

The 19-year-old local’s misadventure began when he decided to take his father’s Mitsubishi wagon for a drive around South Broken Hill around midday yesterday.

According to police the teenager bogged the vehicle but, as he attempted to drive the wagon out, heat from the motor or exhaust caused grass to ignite.

Firefighters who rushed to the scene quickly put out the fire but not before the car was totally destroyed.

Police said they would likely issue tickets to the man for negligent driving and for being an unaccompanied learner.

The incident occurred on Thorndale road near the entrance to the airport.