Actor Dick Van Dyke, 87, had a near miss on Monday when his Jaguar caught fire while the actor was driving on the 101 freeway near Los Angeles, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol told NBC News.
Numerous people called 911 at about 2 p.m. Pacific Time to report that a white Jaguar was smoking and then on fire on the right shoulder near the Parkway Calabasas exit in the west San Fernando Valley, the spokesman said. A man pulled the actor from the vehicle after seeing him slumped over the steering wheel. Some calls to 911 reported that Van Dyke seemed to be passed out.
Although the CHP had no information on Van Dyke's condition, his wife, Arlene, tweeted that the "Mary Poppins" and "Dick Van Dyke Show" star was unhurt. "He's fine, thank God!!" she wrote.
She shared a Vine video of the melted and totaled car after the fire was put out, which shows Van Dyke speaking to a California Highway Patrol officer after the fire.
Among those who stopped to assist Van Dyke were several nurses, the CHP spokesman said.
"The car was basically lost," the spokesman said. Two hours after the fire, it was still parked on the freeway awaiting a tow.
Later, Van Dyke tweeted his own photo and comment: "Used Jag for sale REAL CHEAP!!"
