November 30, 2009

Pa. trooper's Crown Vic bursts into flames

By David Falchek
Times-Tribune

SCRANTON, Pa. — A Pennsylvania State Trooper narrowly escaped serious injury after his car burst into flames on the McDade Expressway Saturday afternoon.

The state police cruiser was northbound before 1 p.m. when the engine compartment burst into flames. Two lanes of traffic were shut for about 20 minutes as the fire was extinguished. Traffic was restricted to one lane for about an hour, creating delays.

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Trooper Mark J. Prushinski was driving when he saw flames under the hood of the car, a Ford Crown Victoria, and the vehicle cabin filled with smoke.

Ben Lewis of Dalton was driving behind the trooper. He saw flames under the car and debris falling from the undercarriage as the cruiser was moving.

Trooper Prushinski had entered the highway at Keyser Avenue and was near the Interstate 81 interchange when the fire broke out.

The trooper pulled the burning vehicle to the shoulder of the road, Mr. Lewis said. But for a few a tense moments, he was having trouble getting out of the car.

"He was still braking, so the seat belt wouldn't release," he said. "When the car stopped, he grabbed some gear and got out."

Scranton firefighters extinguished the fast-burning blaze within minutes, but it had consumed just about every flammable fixture in the car. Scranton police reopened one lane to traffic after the fire was extinguished.

State police said Trooper Prushinski was treated for smoke inhalation.

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