A car crashed into a detached garage in Arapahoe County early this morning, sparking a fire and injuring the driver.
The incident happened at about 5:20 a.m. in the 6400 block of South Dayton Street, according to South Metro Fire and Rescue.
Witnesses in a nearby 7-Eleven called 911 to report the accident.
Deputies with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s office, first on scene, pulled the driver from the burning car, a Chevrolet Caprice, and started CPR on the victim, said Andy Lyon, a South Metro Fire and Rescue spokesman.
“The car was engulfed in flames, deputies smashed the window and pulled the driver out,” said Capt. Al Holstein, a sheriff’s spokesman.
When the car hit the detached garage it was pinned in place, but a rear tire kept spinning, Lyon said. The tire was worn down to the rim and the friction build-up apparently sparked the fire.
Firefighters quickly doused the fire. The car was extremely damaged. There was damage to the garage as well.
The name of the victim, who was taken to Littleton Hospital, was not released. Further details on his injuries were not available.
Two deputies also went to the hospital as a precautionary measure for smoke inhalation. They were treated and released, Holstein said.
The cause of the accident is under investigation.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
