Cape Man Crashes Truck, Keeps Driving Until It Catches Fire: PD

HYANNIS, MA — A Hyannis man was arrested after police said he crashed his truck while under the influence of alcohol and continued driving it until it caught fire and damaged two other cars.

Julio Ramos-Rivera, 36, was charged with operating under the influence of liquor and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

Around 2:50 a.m., Saturday, police and fire officials were called to the 800th block of Bearse's Way for a report of a parked truck on fire. Police arrived first and tried to extinguish the flames, but were unsuccessful. The fire spread to two other cars parked next to the truck.

Hyannis fire officials arrived and put out the flames, but all three vehicles sustained damage and needed to be towed.

Police said they contacted Ramos-Rivera, who owned the truck. Ramos-Rivera told officers he drove home from a friend's house and parked the car. But police said they later discovered Ramos-Rivera struck a guardrail earlier overnight.

When Ramo-Rivera, struck the guardrail, police said he ended with a flat tire and drove an additional three miles on it before parking. Police said the sparks and heat caused by driving on the rim for that distance is what caused the fire.