Two taken to burn unit after car catches fire in Alton

Two people were flown to a hospital burn unit in St. Louis after the car they were in caught fire Thursday afternoon, according to the Fire Chief Bernie Sebold.

Though the two were alive when firefighters extricated them from the burning vehicle shortly after 1:20 p.m., they had life-threatening injuries, Sebold said.

The fire started after the vehicle struck a light pole in a parking lot after leaving the roadway near the intersection of Landmarks Boulevard and Ridge Street.

Sebold did not know the patients’ conditions as of Thursday evening.

This story was originally published July 20, 2017 at 5:30 PM with the headline "Two taken to burn unit after car catches fire in Alton."