A140 Stoke Ash fire sees new BMW engulfed in flames as driver watches
A man has described how “flames burst through the bonnet” of his car as it came to shuddering halt on the A140.
Geoff Naybur, 60, was travelling home from working a shift as an ambulance care assistant last Thursday on the A140 near Stoke Ash when his BMW caught fire - just one week after he had bought it.
He said: “I pulled on to the A140 and then the car juddered and made an almighty bang. It smelt funny and then I saw the smoke and pulled up on the curb”
Wife Jules Naybur, 38, said: “That’s when he rang me - he said I think the car is on fire.”
“I couldn’t believe it, but then as he was talking it suddenly cut off - that’s when he decided to get out of the car and get away from it. I didn’t hear anything else until I heard about it on the local radio station.”
Mr Naybur added: “The flames had burst through the bonnet. I couldn’t believe it and in 40 years of driving I’ve never seen anything like it. It was very scary.”
The couple, who have lived on Viscount Close in Diss for 13 years, later found out that a product recall order had been placed on the model of car - a BMW 1 series diesel, between 2011 and 2017.
“I would certainly say to anyone driving one to get it checked out”, said Mrs Naybur.
“It was a three-year-old car that he had only bought a week ago and we have no idea what caused it. If it wasn’t for Geoff’s quick thinking in pulling over quickly and safely as soon as he knew something was wrong, it could have been a lot more serious.”
Fortunately, the couple have a second car which Mr Naybur can use to get to work.
“I’m just very happy that he’s alright, said Mrs Naybur. A car can easily be replaced, but a life cannot.”
Fire crews from Diss and Eye attended the incident, which took place at 4.55pm and caused lengthy delays, with the fire brought under control by 5.30pm.
Read more: All the latest news from Diss
Read more: All the latest news from Suffolk
Keep up-to-date with developments on transport and stories that will impact how you travel
