A young driver has detailed the shocking moment her car began to ‘struggle up a hill’ before exploding into flames.
Chiara Hocking, 20, was driving her Nissan Micra in Victoria’s northeast when she pulled over because the engine was making ‘funny noises’.
Seconds after stopping, the hatchback erupted into a fireball with Ms Hocking only narrowly escaping the blaze.
Chiara Hocking, 20, was driving her Nissan Micra in Victoria’s northeast when she pulled over because the engine was making ‘funny noises’
In a video posted to TikTok Ms Hocking showed how the ordeal unfolded
She told Yahoo News she was waiting to find somewhere to safely pull over to call her dad about the engine.
Then after hearing a loud bang Ms Hocking instantly jumped out and sprinted away.
‘I was terrified. I was very lucky to have jumped out and ran away in time,’ she said.
Ms Hocking was unable to call Triple-0 in the remote area because she had no service.
But in a stroke of luck, paramedics happened to be driving past shortly after and noticed the flames billowing from her vehicle.
Several police cars and fire trucks flocked to the scene a short while later.
She said she had travelled around Australia in the Micra and it held a special place in her heart.
Although the car was a right-off, her Bunnings jacket in the front seat miraculously survived the blaze.
‘I was terrified. I was very lucky to have jumped out and ran away in time,’ Ms Hocking said
Ms Hocking said she had travelled around Australia in the Micra and it held a special place in her heart.