NJ Waitress Helps 86-Year-Old Customer Out Of Car Before It Catches Fire

BRIDGETON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A waitress at a southern New Jersey diner helped an 86-year-old man get out of his car shortly before it caught fire.

Angela Avenarius, a waitress at the Bridgeton Family Diner, said the man's car appeared to be overheating when he pulled up to the diner on Thursday.

"He had cut off the engine and smoke was just getting worse and it smelled funny," Avenarius told 1010 WINS. "I told him he needed to get out of the car and he was reluctant to do so, for some reason he wanted to stay in there, so I opened the door and convinced him he needed to get out of the car."

She helped him exit the Chevrolet Impala and they took shelter under the diner's awning. By the time they got there the car was on fire.

"It started in the front and then it went up to the firewall, busted out the windshield and blew out the tires, but luckily the fire department got there and put it out before it hit the gas tank," Avenarius said.

Firefighters arrived before noon Thursday. There were no injuries.

Avenarius said the man, who is a regular customer, was shaken up but stayed for lunch.

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