RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) -- What started as an accident on Hopkins Road in Southside Richmond ended up being a 'hot' situation.
While Ruffin Waller did not see the crash happen from inside his home, his security cameras did.
Waller's cameras caught a black sedan on Hopkins Road early Sunday morning losing control, going off road and barreling into a line of trees.
What began as an accident turned into a ball of fire. The car did not go up into smoke right away, though.
"We were looking at it, but it took ten minutes before it burst into flames," Waller said.
Fourteen minutes elapsed between the wreck and the first sign of smoke. The flames can be noticed a few minutes later on the security cam footage.
Richmond Fire officials say car fires can develop after an accident. Normally, when fire engines arrive at an accident scene, they isolate or contain any potential ignition sources.
Waller says he knows from personal experience the ease in which
"I'll never forget it," he said.
Years ago, a leak made Waller's car catch while in the midst of traveling to Washington, D.C. He managed to put the fire out with dirt.
The driver of the black sedan made it out of the car before fire crews arrived to oust the flames. No injuries were reported.
