An electrical malfunction caused a car to burst into flames in front of the Hopkins Center on East Wheelock Street last night, causing $1,600 worth of damage and rendering the automobile worthless.
The car, a 1986 Toyota Celica, belongs to Eddy Zervigon, a student at the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration.Zervigon could not be reached for comment last night.
Hanover Fire Department Captain Jon Whitcomb said multiple, simultaneous callers reported the fire. He said the fire was extinguished within four minutes of the calls.
College Safety and Security officer Bob Fitz said officers received a report of the fire at 7:48 p.m.
The car's starter was trying to engage by itself and subsequently burst into flames, Whitcomb said. The car was parked in front of the Hopkins Center when the fire began.
"That does occasionally happen," he said. "It's usually caused by an electrical short, and there's a multitude of reasons that could actually cause it."
Whitcomb estimated the damage to the car at around $1,600.
The car was "totally engulfed in flames," he said.
Although the fire was out within four minutes, Whitcomb said "It's of no value ... it's totally worthless."
The burned remains of the car were still outside the Hopkins Center last night. Whitcomb said it would eventually be towed.
Hanover Police officer Jeff Fleury, who was the first to arrive at the scene of the fire, said he could not determine the source of the problem at first.
"It came in as a fire call, and normally we respond to those," he said. "I came to the [Hanover] Inn corner and saw a huge amount of smoke, but no flame. I was wondering if it were just steam, but then I saw the flames."
