Imagine this: it’s a warm, sunny afternoon in Mosta, and you’re driving along Triq il-Kbira, the bustling main street. Suddenly, you hear a loud crash, followed by the sickening smell of burning rubber. You turn to see a car, engulfed in flames, its driver still trapped inside. This was the scene that unfolded yesterday, leaving locals shocked and emergency services racing against time.

Witnesses reported that the car, a silver Renault Clio, lost control near the junction with Triq San Pawl, mounting the pavement and crashing into a nearby tree. Within seconds, the car was ablaze, with black smoke billowing into the clear blue sky. “It happened so fast,” said Joe, a local shopkeeper who was among the first on the scene. “I saw the car crash, and then it was like a fireball. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Despite the intense heat and danger, bystanders didn’t hesitate. They rushed to the car, trying to pull the driver out. “We could see the driver was trapped, and the fire was spreading fast,” said Maria, a nurse who was on her way home from work. “I grabbed a fire extinguisher from my car and tried to keep the flames at bay while others tried to free the driver.”

Within minutes, police, fire, and ambulance services were on the scene. The fire brigade worked quickly to extinguish the blaze, while paramedics tended to the driver, who was conscious but shaken. “We managed to free the driver just as the flames were reaching the fuel tank,” said a fire brigade spokesperson. “If it hadn’t been for the quick thinking of the bystanders, the outcome could have been much worse.”

The driver, a 35-year-old man from Mosta, was taken to Mater Dei Hospital with minor injuries. He is said to be in a stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery.

Police are still investigating the cause of the crash. While initial reports suggest that the car may have suffered a mechanical failure, this has not been confirmed. “We’re treating all possibilities,” said a police spokesperson. “We’re appealing to anyone who witnessed the crash to come forward with any information they may have.”

In the meantime, residents of Mosta are breathing a collective sigh of relief. “It could have been so much worse,” said Joe, the shopkeeper. “We’re just glad the driver is going to be okay.”