4 cars burn in pileup, drivers taken to hospital

Witness: 'I was amazed that everyone got out'

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. – A fiery crash destroyed four cars in Pompano Beach Monday morning.

The crash happened at 6:57 a.m. at Sample Road and Military Trail when a car rear-ended a pick-up truck and became lodged underneath. Pompano Beach Fire Rescue says that impact caused the truck to catch fire.

People eating breakfast at an IHOP at the intersection were in awe of the accident scene. Marquis Hoggins witnessed whole thing and caught the crash on his cellphone.

"I was in the restaurant and I saw the red car it's in the front of course stop. I heard screeching noises," Hoggins said.

Cellphone video showed the explosion just moments before the four cars ended up on top of each other.

"When I ran out the door I saw a cloud of flames," Hoggins said. "I saw people running out of the cars."

Hoggins said three of the four people involved were able to get out on their own. A 45-year-old woman was trapped inside a black Toyota Celica, but Hoggins and another bystander helped pull her out.

"I picked up the brick and I handed him the brick," Hoggins said. "He busted the window and pulled the lady out. She was kind of unconscious."

He says in all, everyone got out within 25 seconds of the crash, but seeing the damage hours later he says, it's incredible anyone made it out alive.

"I was amazed that everyone got out," Hoggins said. "In my mind I thought that not everyone got out because the fire happened so fast."

Pompano Beach Fire Rescue said all four drivers were taken to Broward Health North for treatment. The woman inside the burning car was taken with critical injuries, including burns.


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