CHARLOTTE — Another person from the Charlotte area says the Hyundai he was in caught fire without being involved in a wreck.
Nick Voci told Action 9′s Jason Stoogenke he and some friends were traveling to Asheville in a 2013 Hyundai Sonata.
[ ALSO READ: Federal transportation agency ramps up investigation into Hyundai and Kia non-crash fires ]
“All of a sudden, thick heavy smoke started coming out the exhaust and then it started smoking from the front … and then the smoke start coming inside the car,” Voci said. “I was just shocked, really. I didn’t know what to think about it.”
Other drivers saw the fire and called 911. Here are excerpts from one of the calls:
Dispatcher: “911 McDowell County. What’s the address for your emergency?”
Caller: “Hey, so I am on Old Fort Mountain and I am behind this car and it is on fire, like big-time on fire.”
Caller: “Holy (expletive). That person better get out. Oh my God. It’s so bad.”
Dispatcher: “We’re going to get the fire department on the way, OK?”
Caller: “OK. Yeah, thanks. I just wanted to call you guys. It’s crazy.”
The car was a total loss.
“It looked like there was a bomb that went off,” Nick’s mother, Jennifer, said. “(It) didn’t really hit me at first and then later on, when he sent the pictures and the video, I just thought, God, like what a different day it could have been.”
[ RECALL ALERT: Hyundai, Kia recall 485K vehicles due to fire hazard ]
Hyundai has recalled 2013 Sonatas multiple times over the years. Three recalls were for issues that could cause fires. According to federal safety records, the car Voci was in had no unrepaired recalls.
Hyundai sent this statement to Channel 9:
“Hyundai is aware of this incident and has been in contact with the customer to ensure they are being taken care of. Customer safety is always Hyundai’s top priority and we are in the process of conducting an investigation to try and determine the cause of this fire. The 2013 Hyundai Sonata has been the subject of safety recalls.”
(WATCH BELOW: Another Hyundai model involved in non-crash fire)
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