Leeds Mercury – Friday 02 September 1938

Car Ablaze At Darfield

Driver and Passenger Have Narrow Escape

A Darfield motorist and a woman passenger had a narrow escape from serious injury when their car caught fire at Darfield to-night.

The couple were Fred Perry (24), grocer, of 41, Barnsley Road, Darfield, and Dorothy Connelly (21), shop assistant, of 57, Littlefield Lane, Wombwell. The car was completely destroyed in the roadway.

Perry was driving along Barnsley Road, Darfield, towards Barnsley when Miss Connelly remarked that there was a strong smell of petrol. Perry pulled up immediately and going to the front of the car lifted up the bonnet. As he did so fire shot out into his face and the car was enveloped in flames with the passenger inside.

With Perry’s assistance Miss Connelly scrambled out and was uninjured except that her legs were scorched. Both suffered from shock

A passing lorry driver attempted to put out the blaze but it was impossible to save the car.