Paynes Creek, CA — Police have identified William Chaplin as the man who was hospitalized after his pickup truck caught fire in Paynes Creek, California, on Thursday, July 16, 2015.
Local reports say that the 65-year-old Chaplin was headed east on Highway 36 and was just west of the Ponderosa Sky Ranch when his truck’s engine suddenly caught fire. The flames quickly spread to the truck’s cab, and Chaplin was seriously burned.
Emergency workers transported Chaplin to U.C. Davis Medical Center. Linda Eichler, a passenger with him at the time, was also burned and taken to St. Elizabeth for treatment.
What caused the accident is not clear. Police are still investigating.
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Scene of the Accident
View from the Road
Commentary
I’m not sure how much of the truck is left after the accident, but if there’s anything, it definitely needs to be inspected. Obviously, trucks aren’t designed to spontaneously burst into flames like this. If this happened because of some engine defect, then it’s possible that the manufacturer, or even someone who had done work on the vehicle, could ultimately be held responsible.
— Grossman Law Offices
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