A father-of three has died after his car erupted in flames when he drove over a live utility wire.
Anthony Gonzalez, of Wanaque in New Jersey, was driving down Summit Avenue, near the intersection of Route 208, at just before 9am on Thursday.
Authorities say the street was blocked, but he had decided to drive around the barricade. As he did so, he drove over a live utility wire.
The car burst into a ball of fire and by the time first responders arrived the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames.
Video shows the car melting into the tarmac and thick black smoke rising from the roof.
A father-of three has died after his car erupted in flames when he drove onto a live utility wire (pictured)
Video shows the car melting into the tarmac and thick black smoke rising from the roof
The inside of the car was almost completely black aide from the flickers of flame.
Responding officers found Gonzalez dead at the scene and the live power line lying in the roadway near the vehicle.
The investigation is ongoing.
Utilities companies have been working to fix power lines after the recent winter storms downed trees and electric lines leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power.
Police in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, said the department doesn’t have the personnel to post an officer at every hazard, and in the case of a downed wire it blocks off the area and alerts the power company.
The area received about 2 feet of snow during this week’s storm.
Anthony Gonzalez, of Wanaque in New Jersey, a father-of-three died in the flames. His pictured with his family
Responding officers found Gonzalez dead at the scene and the live power line lying in the roadway near the vehicle
Emergency personnel look at electrical lines near the site of a vehicle fire in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey
Gonzalez’s children’s teacher, Jackie Milnes of Fair Lawn, has since started a GoFundMe for the family.
‘This family suffered an unimaginable loss on Thursday morning when they learned that their dad and husband lost his life in an accident involving down power lines due to Wednesdays storm,’ she wrote.
‘This very loving family is very active in their church, community, and are always there to support others. Now they need the support. Please consider sharing and or donating to help lighten the financial load and help the family move forward as they grief their loss.’
The site had raised nearly $1,400 as of Thursday afternoon.