Google Sightseeing takes you on tour of the world as seen from satellite, using the free Google Earth program, or Google Maps in your web browser. Each weekday your guides James and Alex present new weird and wonderful sights as suggested by readers.

The editors: James & Alex

Burning Car

Sunday, 6th April 2008 by Alex

While capturing Street View images in Cleveland, Ohio, the Google team drove past a car in flames.

The incident that caused the car to burst into flames took place before the Google car arrived on scene, as the smoke from the fire is visible all the way up the street. It’s worth pointing out though that the frame that should have shown the wreck in most detail has been replaced with a shot taken on a different occasion.

What might have happened here?

Via Virtual Globetrotting.

See our previous posts Expensive Car Crash and Multi-Vehicle Car Accident Captured on Google Street View.

8 Responses to 'Burning Car'

  1. 1. RJ Marquette says:

    I doubt there was any incident that caused the car to suddenly burst into flames; it was probably a wiring problem that shorted out and started with a small fire which then grew.

  2. 2. Glenn says:

    It is a new form of a barbeque, a carbeque. ;-)

    Probably a electrical short, rather than any collison can’t really see any debris on the road or marks to suggest a collision.

  3. 3. xf says:

    Going back on that street there’s a sign saying “Watch for ice on bridge”:
    http://maps.google.com/maps?q=&ie=UTF8&layer=c&cbll=41.359721,-81.602064&cbp=1,113.84142222056676,,0,11.37801018862236&ll=41.3969,-81.597519&spn=0.081255,0.148659&t=h&z=13
    Maybe it should be changed with “Watch for fire on bridge” :D

  4. 4. Vincent Clement says:

    The frame was probably replaced because the smoke from the fire obscured the frame.

    It is interesting to see how quickly the fire grows. Note to Google - don’t take pictures when the sun is just above horizon.

  5. 5. nova72asu says:

    I betting this guy is the cars owner.
    http://maps.google.com/maps?q=&ie=UTF8&layer=c&cbll=41.359233,-81.598108&cbp=1,188.64617211779296,,1,1.9985729325006762&ll=41.390332,-81.593571&spn=0.061945,0.1581&z=13

  6. 6. Erik says:

    At least the car in front of the Street View car is stopping to help the car’s owner, unlike the Street View car itself!

  7. 7. Mad Mick says:

    Ouch, I guess he won’t want another Hot Rod ;)

  8. 8. phillip says:

    Wow, an authentic Cleveland steamer!

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