Car Breaks Down And Bursts Into Flames In Orland Hills: Police

TINLEY PARK, IL — A 2004 530i BMW burst into flames late Sunday evening after the driver said it had broken down in the center of the road in Orland Hills.

The 18-year-old man said he noticed "something was wrong" with his car and stopped just off of 89th Avenue and Hickory Drive in Orland Hills to call police. When police asked for a location, the man stepped out of his car to get the address of the nearest home. This is when he said the car "just burst" into flames, causing smoke that could be seen from over a mile away.

The owner of the car said it had gone limp and stopped working, putting itself in neutral. He said the car has a transmission computer, and that the gear shifter is controlled electronically. When he attempted to press the gas pedal, nothing would happen. He said this is when he heard "a big popping sound" from the gear selector/transmission tunnel. Upon exiting the car, the driver said he noticed a small fire by the gas pedal, followed by smoke coming from the engine.

The driver said he believes the cause to be an electrical issue, due to the age of the car and transmission issues.

Firefighters and police put the blaze out, and nobody was hurt, police said. Hickory Drive was temporarily closed off to allow the car to be towed and the road cleaned of debris. Police are investigating the root cause of the fire.

The driver said he had only gotten the car about four months ago. See a Facebook live video of the car after the flames were extinguished and just before it was towed.