Roy man helps save driver from burning car

ROY, Utah — A Roy man is recounting the moments he helped a driver who didn’t know the car was on fire.

It erupted into flames, torching the entire vehicle within minutes. And cell phone video shows the dramatic blaze.

In the video, a man in a pink shirt is seen running around.

That man is Doug Smith, frantic as he works to move his truck out of harm’s way and help the distraught driver and driver’s family member as they watch their car go up in smoke.

A home surveillance camera shows the red four-door car making noises as it drives down the street. Smith said he stepped outside when he heard the noises and saw the car.

He could see a fire start to billow from underneath the car, but he said the driver kept moving forward, unaware of the flames.

“The guy was just driving down the road, he could tell there was an issue with his car, but I am certain he did not realize that the car was on fire at this point,” Smith recounted.

He said he ran out onto the street, waving his arms while yelling and screaming for the guy to stop. Smith was whistling, trying to get the driver’s attention.

The man stopped and opened his door but sat there staring at Smith.

“That’s when I started letting him know, ‘Hey, your car is on fire. You need to get out of your car,'” Smith explains. “And at this point, it was starting to get pretty big.”

He said the man got out but then went back for his cell phone. Smith got him away from the flames and helped the driver to safety.

Moments later, the car transformed into an inferno, and explosions rang out as each tire burst from the heat.

Smith took out his cell phone to record the fire but inadvertently kept it rolling as he ran around the scene.

“I’ve called 911,” Smith says in the video. At this point, the car is no longer visible underneath the fiery ball surrounding it. He walks toward the driver. “Man, this poor man right here. I’m going to get you a water, sir, OK?”

Not only did Smith help the driver, but he also consoled a family who showed up freaking out.

Smith dropped his phone in the grass, but the woman can be heard sobbing as Smith worked to calm her down.

“He’s okay. Because this could be a lot worse, he didn’t even realize the car was on fire,” Smith said.

Roy City Fire responded and said the firefighters extinguished the blaze without any injuries. They aren’t sure what caused the car to catch on fire.

Smith explained that based on the family’s reaction, he thinks this may have been their only vehicle.

“Not like life ain’t freaking hard enough right now, with gas prices and all this other stuff,” Smith said, sympathizing with their situation.

He said he didn’t get the driver’s full name and doesn’t know where the man lives.

Smith may not know the man he helped, but he knows the man is safe — and Smith knows that’s all that matters.

“I thank the Lord for that,” Smith said, pausing as tears filled his eyes. “I’m glad I was able to help.”