Actor-comedian Dick Van Dyke, 87, was pulled from his burning car by a good Samaritan who happened upon the scene while driving along a Los Angeles highway Monday afternoon.
Jason Pennington said to TMZ that he was traveling on the Highway 101 and saw a smoke-filled luxury Jaguar pulled onto the shoulder. He stopped and looked in the driver’s seat. An elderly gentleman was hunched over the steering wheel, he said.
Turns out, the elderly man was Mr. Van Dyke, TMZ said.
Mr. Pennington told the media outlet he pulled Mr. Van Dyke from the car just as flames were reaching the engine. Mr. Van Dyke was disoriented, he said, as United Press International reported, but he didn’t need further medical attention.
Mr. Van Dyke’s wife, Arlene, also escaped the burning car without injury, CNN reported.
Mr. Van Dyke’s spokesman said the Hollywood icon was “fine” but “slightly embarrassed” and “appreciative of the instant help he got on the road.”
Photographs show his car completely blackened and burned.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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