by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
A flaming vehicle caused a 90-minute closing of 30th Avenue N. in LeSauk Township north of Sartell on the morning of Jan. 5.
A vehicle with smoke billowing from it was reported at 6:19 a.m. near 17th Street N. and 30th Avenue N. The driver of the vehicle, a 2001 Dodge Caravan, was Joseph Sowada, 48, of Albany. He told those at the scene the vehicle had backfired many times and then began smoking.
When he stopped the vehicle, he noticed a small engine fire that quickly grew into a large fire. Sowada was the sole occupant of the vehicle; he was not injured.
The Sartell Fire Department doused the fire, although the vehicle was totally destroyed by the flames and smoke.
Officials kept 30th Avenue closed because of possible danger to other motorists keeping the road open to emergency vehicles only.
