1991 Toyota Previa van, showing fire damage caused by undercarriage collision with towing dolly that penetrated the gas tank

A 1991 Toyota Previa van was traveling 50 to 55 mph on a multi-lane divided highway in an urban setting when it struck a tow dolly in the roadway. The tow dolly had apparently fallen off another vehicle or come loose from a vehicle being towed. The underside of the Previa struck a rod on the tow dolly, puncturing the fuel tank of the Previa; the driver was able to bring the vehicle to a stop in her lane of the highway. The vehicle was surrounded by flames immediately. The driver and her son were able to exit the vehicle without assistance, but both had to cross through flames. 

The only available liquid fuel was gasoline, and it was the most likely primary fuel source for the fire. Contact with the rod from the tow dolly created a 3-4 in. long by 0.5 in. wide breach in the lower forward portion of the steel fuel tank, which was on the undercarriage. The breach was close to the driver door. Ignition was immediate and most likely from mechanical sparks created by abrasion between the tow dolly and the pavement; several abraded areas on the tow dolly were consistent with this scenario. A pool fire resulted, causing an intense fire that blocked the occupants' exit paths.

Propagation to the interior was within seconds of the doors being opened. Each occupant exited through their respective front doors, and the driver door was left open. The passenger door was likely open during a portion of the fire. Heat damage was most intense on the undercarriage in the vicinity of the tank breach, but heat damage to the interior was more extreme to the passenger side interior. This was reconciled by an assessment of vehicle position (during the fire) relative to wind direction, which revealed that the wind was blowing from the driver side toward the passenger side.

Both occupants sustained severe bum injuries. The driver suffered burns to her hands, feet, and face, and was hospitalized for two and a half months. Her son sustained burns to his face and was hospitalized for three days. The driver has had multiple surgeries for her burns.