Enlarge image
Fire department emergency vehicle (symbolic image)
Photo: Marijan Murat/dpa
A man saved a senior citizen from a burning car with his pocket knife.
According to police reports on Thursday, a fire broke out in the interior between the driver and passenger seats, probably due to a technical defect.
The 65-year-old driver stopped at a bus stop near Schwäbisch Hall on Wednesday evening and got out.
The 72-year-old passenger could not get out of the car on her own.
Because of the fire, the driver probably did not apply the handbrake, a spokesman said.
According to the statement, the burning car rolled downhill and stopped at a fence after about 30 meters.
A man rushed over and, according to the spokesman, cut the belt with which the woman was still strapped in with a pocket knife.
The car burned out completely.
The driver and passenger were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
kfr/dpa