Car Fire Erupts On Lovers Lane After Truck Crashes Into Tree

A car fire erupted on Lovers Lane Tuesday afternoon after a truck careened off the road and hit a tree.

The Nantucket Fire Department and Nantucket Police Department responded to the dirt road just after 3 p.m. and discovered the vehicle fully engulfed in flames. The driver escaped from the fire under his own power and was transported to Nantucket Cottage Hospital to be evaluated, but was not believed to have suffered any significant injuries. 

A thick column of black smoke rising from the vehicle could be seen for miles around the island before firefighters extinguished the blaze.

“He was lucky,” a first responder told the Current, noting the driver was likely going 40 mph or more down the dirt road.

Lovers Lane was blocked off in both directions for more than an hour as the fire was extinguished, the ambulance transported the driver, and the truck was towed away.

Fire Chief Michael Cranson shared the following about the fire Tuesday evening: “I believe there was only one occupant of the vehicle. He stated that he was driving the vehicle when he lost control of it and struck the tree. He was able to extricate himself from the vehicle prior to our arrival. He was transported to the hospital to be evaluated. I was not overly concerned with the brush because there was the circular driveway around the trees and that provided separation from the rest of the vegetation. We had a hydrant right there and our firefighters were able to get water on the fire very quickly. The police department arrived just before us and they were very helpful in keeping the public back and supporting us as we deployed our equipment. It was a good team effort however the vehicle was a total loss.”

Watch a video of the fire by clicking here.