Dick Van Dyke Rescued After Car Catches Fire On Freeway

Dick Van Dyke was rescued on Monday afternoon after his car caught fire on the freeway. The actor was driving on the 101 near Los Angeles when his white Jaguar began smoking.

Several 911 calls went through around 2:00 pm local time to report the incident, which happened near the Parkway Calabasis exit in the west San Fernando Valley.

Some of the calls reported that the actor was slumped over and possibly passed out, reports NBC News. Thankfully, a man came to Van Dyke’s rescue, pulling him from the car as the engine appeared to catch fire.

Flames quickly engulfed the car, totaling it within minutes. Dick’s rescuer, Jason Pennington, spoke with TMZ about the incident. He explained that he was driving on the freeway when he spotted a car filled with smoke.

He pulled over, ran up to the car, and saw Dick Van Dyke struggling inside. He quickly opened the door and pulled the actor out. Thankfully, neither man needed medical attention after the scary car fire.

Both Van Dyke and his wife, Arlene, tweeted photos of the scorched and melted Jaguar after the incident was over. Arlene also wrote, “He’s fine thank God!!”

Dick’s wife wasn’t in the vehicle at the time of the fire. Instead, she arrived at the scene to take him home. But before they left, Arlene Van Dyke also took a Vine video and posted it on her Twitter account, showing the extent of the damage and allowing the Marry Poppins actor’s fans to imagine what might have happened.

It’s unclear whether police will follow up on reports of Van Dyke being passed out at the wheel on the side of the road. CHP had no information about his condition, but Pennington commented that the actor appeared disoriented.

One thing’s for sure — Dick Van Dyke’s wife likely won’t let him out of her sight anytime soon.

Van Dyke’s melted car @iammrvandy He’s fine thank God!! https://t.co/LqPpxE4Sa1

— arlene van dyke (@speakyteeth) August 19, 2013

[Image via Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com]