A mum has told of her horror after her Range Rover burst into flames while she was trapped inside. Sami Webster was forced to free herself from the 4x4 after she noticed smoke seeping through the dashboard as she drove home in Bolton.
Thankfully, as it was a hot day, the 30-year-old mum-of-two had left the driver's side window down - and managed to squeeze through as the vehicle burst into flames. But she suffered two broken ribs and smoke inhalation during the terrifying ordeal.
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Sami told The Sun : "At first I thought it was the car in front, but when I reached a red light I saw the smoke coming out of my engine. The Range Rover doors were locked when I set off and the door wouldn't open. I was terrified and frightened for my life as it happened so fast."
After escaping from the burning 4x4 Sami ran to safety and called 999. She added: "I was really shocked and scared. I've got two children and fortunately they were both at school.
"It could have been so much worse. It kept flashing into my mind that they could so easily have been in the car."
With family in Bradford and Thirsk in Yorkshire Sami says she is 'forever on the motorway', so feels lucky the fire broke out on a quiet street close to home. "It doesn't bear thinking about if the fire had erupted when I was driving on the motorway with all the windows up and two children in the car.
"I panicked when I saw the smoke and tried to open the door, but it was jammed shut. I was terrified I'd never get out alive.
"Thank God it was a sunny day, otherwise I might not have survived. I could so easily have ended up dead. It was such a life or death situation."
Sami bought the Range Rover for £16,696 on finance just four months ago. Aviva valued the car at just £14,750 and had offered her £14,050 after her £700 voluntary excess was taken off, she said.
"After this nightmare I am landed with a £2,646 debt through no fault of my own," she added. "This happens just days ahead of that recall, but Range Rover Bolton were quick to tell me that they take no responsibility for the fire. The recall was about engine management, steering and emissions.
"And when I called Prestige Cars they simply said that it was nothing to do with them, which was so disappointing, as it's not like any motorist does anything to set their car on fire."
A spokesman for manufacturer Land Rover UK said: "Customer safety is our highest priority. We are aware of the incident, and we sympathise with Ms Webster's experience, the cause of which is yet to be determined.
"We will support any investigation initiated by the insurer."
