Driver rescued from burning vehicle in Capitola shopping center

CAPITOLA — A tragic ending to a vehicle fire was avoided this week when good Samaritans pulled a woman from her burning car.

The fire broke out in a Honda sedan in a Bay Avenue parking lot around 5 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Capitola Police Department. A woman in her late 60s was trapped inside the car until bystanders pulled her out, police said in a social media post. The department particularly credited an unnamed retired nurse for the rescue efforts.

The flames, accompanied by explosions, eventually spread to a nearby parked Toyota truck with a dog locked inside, according to police. In addition to the burning sedan, the truck was destroyed in the blaze. The dog, however, was rescued without injury and reunited with its owner.

The Toyota driver was airlifted to an out-of-county trauma center for treatment of serious injuries sustained in the fire, according to police. She was last known to be stabilized and recovering. No other injuries were reported in the blaze.

Police investigators did not believe the fire was suspicious or criminal in nature.