Two occupants of a vehicle that was damaged beyond recognition in a crash “miraculously” escaped with minor injuries early Sunday morning, authorities said.
According to the Newport Beach Fire Department, crews were called out to the 1100 block of Jamboree Road in Newport Beach around 1 a.m.
Multiple units arrived to find a “significant single-vehicle traffic collision” on the southbound side of Jamboree Road adjacent to the Palisades Tennis Club.
“An SUV struck and severely damaged two light poles before colliding with a tree, causing the engine compartment to separate from the main body of the vehicle,” the Newport Beach Fire Department said. “[A responding unit] quickly extinguished a fire in the vehicle’s engine compartment.”
“The main body of the vehicle was found approximately 20 feet away in the middle of Jamboree Road,” the department continued, adding that the force of the crash was so strong that one of the car’s front tires was discovered within the Palisades Tennis Club property.
Both people inside the car at the time of the collision “miraculously” self-extricated prior to the arrival of first responders and were found sitting on a nearby curb, the fire department said.
They were assessed at the scene and transported to a local hospital in stable condition.
What caused the crash was not immediately clear.
Officials with the Newport Beach Fire Department reminded motorists that “traffic accidents tend to increase” during the holidays and to take extra precautions when driving.
“Please slow down, stay focused and drive responsibly,” NBFD said. “Let’s work together to keep our roads safe for everyone this holiday season.”