Queens, New York, USA – Three passengers were pulled from a burning car on the Grand Central Parkway after a crash that left the vehicle fully engulfed in flames in the early hours of March 22, 2026.

The incident happened around 1:10 a.m. near exit 11, where a sedan had left the roadway and struck a tree. The car quickly caught fire, producing heavy smoke and intense flames that spread through the vehicle.

Police arrived on scene and found the wreck already burning. The driver had managed to exit the car, but three passengers were still trapped inside the damaged vehicle.

Officers rushed toward the car as the fire grew stronger. They broke the driver-side window and reached inside the burning wreck to begin removing the passengers.

All three trapped individuals were pulled out one by one while flames continued to burn across the exterior and interior of the vehicle. The roadside scene was lit by fire and emergency lights as traffic continued moving nearby.

The rescue was carried out by responding officers working together at the scene. The passengers were safely removed before the fire fully overtook the car.

Authorities later reported that a 20-year-old man was arrested in connection with the crash, facing charges including reckless driving.

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