(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - A Ketchikan man is safe after his Ford Explorer crashed into a rock wall in front of Hometown Furnishings and burst into flames Monday afternoon. The driver, identified as John Hamilton, was driving south on North Tongass Highway when the crash occurred.

Shortly after the Explorer burst into flame. By this time the driver, John Hamilton had already been helped from the vehicle by two good samaritans, one of which included the photographer.
Photograph by Mathew Beardsley

Mathew Beardsley, a witness and among the first on the scene, said he saw the crash but didn't know exactly what had happened. Beardsley and another man stopped and helped Hamilton get out of his SUV. At first, Beardsley said he wasn't sure if Hamiliton was penned, but then could see Hamilton trying to get out and Hamilton's hand reaching out of a window. Beardsley said the car was smoking as they were helping Hamilton out. The back window burst out and flames erupted shortly after Hamilton was helped out of the wreckage said Beardsley.

Unidentified fire crew of Ketchikan Fire Department shortly after their arrival engaging the fire.
Photograph by Mathew Beardsley ©2014

The Ketchikan Fire Department and the Ketchikan Police Department responded to the scene and the fire was extinguished using foam. No other information is available at this time concerning the cause of the wreck of the single vehicle.

According to Beardsley, the driver did not appear to have been injured. There is no information to date as to the cause of the crash.

After the Explorer flames are extinguished
by the Ketchikan Fire Department using foam.
Photograph by Mathew Beardsley ©2014

SitNews ©2014
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska

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