A Chevrolet Corvette clipped another car on a South Florida road early Thursday, and the other driver turned around hoping to photograph its license plate.
Seconds later, according to the motorist’s account to Local 10 News, the Corvette crashed into a utility pole and erupted in flames.
Two people inside the Corvette died at the scene. The second vehicle sustained minor damage, and no injuries were reported inside it, according to CBS News Miami.
The crash happened around 4:45 a.m. Thursday in the 6500 block of Nova Drive in Davie, near College Avenue. It left behind a burned-out Corvette, a damaged utility pole and a power outage while traffic homicide detectives began trying to determine exactly what happened.
Seconds Apart
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The driver of the other vehicle, identified by 7News as a BMW, told reporters the Corvette clipped his car as it traveled along Nova Drive.
He was not seriously hurt. He told 7News that he turned around to try to get the Corvette’s license plate.
By then, the Corvette had lost control and struck the pole.
Local 10 reported the driver similarly described the Corvette as speeding when it scuffed his vehicle. By the time he turned around to photograph the tag, he said, the Corvette had crashed.
7News reported that police believe speed played a role in the wreck. The agency’s full reconstruction has not been released, and the cause of the crash remained under investigation Thursday.
Fire At Dawn
Video from the scene showed flames consuming the Corvette at the base of the utility pole.
Joe DeGennaro, who was working nearby, told 7News he first heard a loud impact and then an explosion. When he went outside, he saw flames across the street.
He then heard another explosion.
“The fire was about as high as the wires,” DeGennaro told Local 10.
7News reported that one of the Corvette’s occupants was ejected. Both occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police had not publicly identified them as of Thursday afternoon.
Power Goes Out
The collision also knocked out electricity in the surrounding area.
NBC 6 South Florida reported that Florida Power & Light said more than 2,000 customers were without power at one point after the crash. Crews worked to restore service, including electricity to nearby traffic signals.
Davie Police also warned drivers early Thursday to avoid Nova Drive east of College Avenue while eastbound lanes were shut down.
Nova Drive was temporarily closed between College Avenue and Davie Road as police investigated and utility crews worked at the scene. Westbound lanes later reopened.
Davie Police traffic homicide detectives continue to investigate the crash.