NORWICH – Early Sunday morning an accident led to a vehicle becoming engulfed in flame on County Road 32, near BOCES. Only one vehicle was involved and the three female passengers were able to exit the vehicle before the fire became serious. Norwich Fire Chief Tracy Chawgo explained that the three women appeared stable and were transported to Chenango Memorial Hospital, though two of the three were later transported to other hospitals.
According to the Norwich Fire Department emergency medical responders and firefighters were dispatched to the scene at approximately 3:30 a.m.
“The witnesses stated that the car passed them... shortly after they looked back and it looked like the car hit the guardrail and it tore the gas tank off, which resulted in a fire in the car,” said Chawgo. After impact the vehicle rolled over and, according to witnesses, the car looked like a fireball. Originally it was reported that the three passengers were entrapped in the vehicle.
“It was a relief to see people out of the vehicle,” said Chawgo who responded to the scene.
It took approximately ten minutes to quell the fire and there was a great deal of damage sustained to the guard rail and roadway.
Said Lieutenant Rich Cobb with the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office when asked about the cause of the accident, “Our investigation is continuing into the case.”