DOOLEYVILLE - An Elysburg couple escaped injury Tuesday after their vehicle burst into flames along the Strong Connector in Mount Carmel Township.
Robert Dluge Sr., 85, of 125 Penn Ave., was driving a 2006 Volvo XC70 south on Route 54 about 12:13 p.m., between Dooleyville and Strong, when after hearing loud noises from the engine, it caught fire, according to Mount Carmel Township Police Chief Brian Hollenbush.
Dluge and his wife, Bernice, 84, exited the vehicle safely and were waiting inside the vehicle of a passerby when emergency responders arrived, Hollenbush said.
"When I got there the whole engine compartment was well involved and the fire started going into the passenger compartment," Hollenbush said.
Emergency responders were on scene for 55 minutes.
The vehicle was totaled by the fire and was towed from the scene," Hollenbush said.
Also responding were Mount Carmel Township Patrolman Matthew Filarski, Kulpmont Police Chief Michael Pitcavage, Atlas and Beaverdale fire companies, Mount Carmel Area Rescue Squad and AREA Services.