While the Moody County Sheriff and the Colman Fire Department responded to a vehicle fire shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday, another car nearly crashed near the emergency scene.
Sheriff Troy Wellman said the driver of the car that burned was sitting in his patrol car when the other driver, also southbound near the Trent exit on Interstate 29, went into the median to avoid rear ending another car and did a near 360-degree spin almost ending up going into the northbound lane. Wellman heard squealing of tires and saw the car come back through the median and continue south.

The driver was not ticketed, but Wellman said it appears the driver was distracted and didn’t notice other vehicles slowing down near the car fire. The incident happened between the Trent overpass and the on ramp.
The owner of the car that started on fire, a North Dakota man, told Wellman that his vehicle lost power so he pulled over and noticed the side of his car was wet. When he opened the hood, the engine compartment was filled with smoke and flames. The car was a total loss.
The Colman Fire Department shared the photo and the story of the close call on Facebook, reminding people to slow down and stay alert. The post was shared more than 200 times and received several comments.
“When coming thru (SIC) a scene, slow down and pay attention! We all want to make it home!” the post said.