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A Charlotte man was trapped briefly inside his burning minivan after it crashed into a wooded ditch in western Rowan County shortly before noon Friday. The wreck also caused a small woods fire.
James Riddle, 43, of 4618 Annerly Court, got out of the burning vehicle before the fire reached him, according to N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper K.G. Brown.
According to Brown’s report, Riddle was traveling east on U.S. 70 in a 1998 Ford Windstar minivan when he crossed the center line, veered to the left, then careened off the road’s shoulder about 50-feet into a nearby ditch.
Riddle’s minivan caught fire when it came to rest in the thicket.
He was trapped for a short period of time before escaping.
The fire quickly spread into the brush, burning a roughly 50-foot circle of the woods around the minivan. Firefighters from the Franklin Fire Department responded and extinguished the blaze in less than 10 minutes.
Brown said her investigation of the wreck is pending, because she could not immediately talk to Riddle. She was not sure if he was wearing his seat belt.
Emergency Medical Services workers said Riddle had no burns.
They transported him to Rowan Regional Medical Center, where he still was being treated in the emergency room late Friday afternoon.
A hospital official later said he was admitted in good condition.
Reach Jonathan Weaver at 704-797-4266 or jweaver@salisburypost.com
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