Hahna Lavarre's car burst into flames as she drove to work. Photo / Supplied
Hahna Lavarre's car burst into flames as she drove to work. Photo / Supplied
Hahna Lavarre was stunned and scared when her car caught on fire while driving to work.
The Papamoa woman was driving between Papamoa and Tauranga when her car started idling before smoke and flames started billowing from it. She had dropped her 3-year-old daughter at daycare moments before.
Lavarre saidshe parked up in the nearest safest spot, which was at Papamoa Plaza, and jumped out of her car. She was surrounded by smoke and saw flames underneath her car and under the bonnet.
"I could see smoke coming from everywhere," Lavarre said.
"Paint all over the bonnet had just completely melted," she said.
She bought the car privately about five days ago and had not had any trouble with it in that short timeframe. However, she said she could see fuel on the road where her car started idling, ending where she parked.
"I was near McDonald's; everyone in the window and everyone else saw the car. McDonald's staff were so great, they came out with a hose and a fire extinguisher.