3 Cars Catch Fire In Melville Parking Lot; Car Overturns Nearby

MELVILLE, NY — Three cars caught fire at a Melville parking lot Friday morning, and a car overturned nearby, according to reports.

Suffolk police said they received a call at 11:48 a.m. that cars were on fire at 400 South Service Road. No one was in the cars, police said.

The Melville Fire Department responded to the Huntington Hills Center For Health & Rehabilitation, dispatching three engines, an ambulance, rescue personnel and 20 firefighters under the direction of Chief David Kaplan and Assistant Chiefs Bill Schmitt and Jason Bernfeld, said public information officer Steve Silverman.

A Honda Civic and BMW were destroyed, and a van sustained considerable damage. The fire appears to be accidental, Silverman said.

While trying to douse the flames, Kaplan heard a crash from a vehicle flipping over on the westbound Long Island Expressway east of Pinelawn Road at 12:18 p.m. A Toyota rear-ended a Rolls Royce and flipped onto its side, Silverman said. The Toyota driver suffered a cut to his hand when he broke the windshield to climb out, Silverman said. Both drivers involved declined medical attention. Firefighters secured both vehicles and cleaned an oil spill.