Our rental car burst into FLAMES while we were sat in traffic – we escaped by the skin of our teeth
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
A COUPLE whose hire car unexpectedly caught fire within minutes while on holiday now want answers from the rental company - who they claim appeared "completely unbothered" by the frightening ordeal.
Jenna Willcox, 41, and her partner, Matt Jackson, 39, were driving near Killorglin, a small town in County Kerry, Ireland, when their rented Peugeot 3008 began to emit white smoke and a terrible smell.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
4
A couple's hire car burst into flames while they were on holiday in Ireland
Credit: Matt Jackson
4
A rented Peugeot 3008 started smoking and then suddenly ignited, sparking a nightmare for the holidaymakers
Credit: Matt Jackson
4
It left the car reduced to a burnt-out shell
Credit: Matt Jackson
4
Burnt-out wreck of hire car leaves couple demanding answers from rental company
Credit: Matt Jackson
Sensing a major issue, they quickly got out of the car and pulled most of their belongings out with them, including their suitcases.
Moments later, the car was completely engulfed in flames, leaving them stunned.
'It literally happened within minutes, we were sitting in traffic outside this little town and smoke started coming out of the bonnet,' said Jenna, speaking exclusively to Sun Motors.
'It was pouring out, it was the worst thing I've ever smelt. I don't know what was on fire, but it smelled like hell.'
The couple ran up the road to a nearby petrol station, watching in shock as the car they'd been sitting in was reduced to a burnt-out husk.
'I keep thinking, if the lock hadn't worked or if we hadn't been able to get away in time.
'Luckily, people around us were able to drive away - but what if we'd been inside a tunnel or stuck in traffic?'
After the ordeal, the couple managed to get a bus back to their accommodation, expecting Enterprise, the company they'd hired the car from, to provide assistance - perhaps with an offer of compensation or a replacement car.
But Jenna says their response was slow and disorganised, with the company completely unprepared to manage the situation.
She claims they were passed around and transferred to a vehicle recovery company, despite there being "nothing to recover."
Cars & 30-tonne HGV collide in high-speed pile-up – but is all as it seems
'We literally spent the whole of the next day on the phone to Enterprise to get them to send us another vehicle - we thought the least they could do was send us another vehicle.'
After speaking to Jenna, Sun Motors reached out to Enterprise.
A spokesperson for the company said: 'At Enterprise we aim to always deliver high-quality customer service.
'If incidents occur, we maintain consistent communication with the customer during and post-incident to provide ongoing support and keep them informed of progress.
'We believe that our actions in this case followed all necessary steps to resolve the situation.'
However, Jenna and Matt vehemently disagree with Enterprise's assessment.
They claim that instead of offering immediate assistance, Enterprise told them they needed to return to the nearest outlet - some 100 miles away - despite the fact they no longer had a means of transport.
How to deal with a vehicle fire
If your car catches fire or emits smoke while driving, stop safely, evacuate all passengers and call emergency services.
Leave the vehicle quickly, as electrical systems might fail. Use an extinguisher on small external fires only if safe, but don't put yourself at risk.
Avoid opening the bonnet as it could worsen the fire, move away from traffic lanes, stand behind barriers if possible and keep a safe distance due to risks like toxic fumes, tyre explosions, or flying parts.
Inform emergency services about the vehicle type and any flammable cargo, especially if it's an electric vehicle, as these require special handling.
Most of all, prioritise your safety over saving the car.
It was only after failing to find a taxi and making several further phone calls, they claim, that an employee eventually drove a replacement car to them.
Enterprise disputes this claim, saying that it promptly offered transport to the customers.
"It seemed like they had absolutely no contingency plan in place,' added Jenna.
'Even if the car had broken down, you would think they'd have some sort of plan to bring us one.
'The whole thing with Enterprise, the whole way through, they were really bad at communication.
'They didn't apologise or ask us how we were - they didn't seem to care about any of that.'
Jenna and Matt continued to chase a response from Enterprise after the incident happened in September.
'Eventually, they got to the stage where they're like, 'Okay, we need to do an investigation into what happened.'
'But it was all from that perspective; what they were interested in was, was it our fault?'
Jenna says they never explained or shared any details about the evidence they had - pointing out it was impossible to figure out what caused the fire since the car was completely destroyed.
'At this point, we were terrified, like, what if they think it's our fault? They could prosecute us or take us to court. There was no explanation or communication on what the consequences might be.'
Eventually, Enterprise concluded their investigation, finding that Jenna and Matt were not at fault.
However, much to the couple's frustration, that was the end of the matter.
When they contacted the Ombudsman group European Car Rental Conciliation Service (ECRCS), they said they were told by Enterprise that there was a complex investigation ongoing involving many departments.
When the couple asked Enterprise about this directly, they claimed the company did not respond - which meant ECRCS said they were unable to act.
Eight months later, Zurich, Enterprise's insurance company, finally offered them £600 in compensation, later increasing it to £900.
However, this failed to account for the ruined holiday, emotional distress and time spent resolving the issue.
'Sometimes when I drive home from work, it does go through my mind.
'You'll sometimes get a weird smell, and you don't know if it's your car or someone else's car, and it does go through my mind - what if it happens again?
'Before this fire, I would have just been like, 'Don't be ridiculous, a car can't just catch on fire.' But now I know that it does happen for no reason. That does go through my mind, which is pretty horrible.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Adrenalin hits, spa bliss & stunning mountain views above make Switzerland a great escape
On a misty day like today, we're even higher than the clouds as I look down over the edge on the First Cliff Walk. Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AS I'm gripping on to the handrail of a walkway suspended 45 metres above the Swiss town of Grindelwald, I ask our guide: 'Is now a good time to tell you I'm scared of heights?' We're just south of Thun, one of this year's UEFA Women's Euros host cities and a dizzying 2,000 metres above sea level. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Summit for the weekend in Grindelwald 5 Spread your wings with First Glider Credit: David Birri On a misty day like today, we're even higher than the clouds as I look down over the edge on the First Cliff Walk. And this is actually the tamest activity I've signed up for. . . FLYING START I stop for a hearty potato rosti topped with bacon, cheese and a fried egg, £21, at Berggasthaus First, before plucking up the courage for the First Flyer, an 800-metre-long zipwire that reaches speeds of 50mph ( Once down, I realise it would have been a better idea to eat lunch after, not before. But I'm soon back up the mountain to try First Glider, where I'm harnessed face down, then pulled back and launched through the air like an eagle (though I don't feel quite so graceful). Mountain carting – a cross between a go-kart and a sledge – proves my fave, as I speed down a twisty, 3km-long track back towards town. Tickets for two activities cost £91 per adult ( The Fire & Ice Spa at my chic hotel, Bergwelt Grindelwald, just minutes from the gondola, is a welcome change of pace. I warm up in the outdoor sauna with views of the imposing, ragged face of Eiger mountain, before soaking in the heated outdoor pool – the sound of cowbells nearby is the only playlist. Derrick Rose and girlfriend Alaina Anderson enjoy family vacation in Switzerland TOP OF THE ROCKS A 30-minute train ride away is the town of Interlaken, home to the Harder Kulm mountain, where it's a short trip by the 100-year-old funicular to the summit ( At the top, I find Panorama Restaurant, serving 'the coldest beer in Interlaken', £6, in an ice-bottomed glass, as well as daily Alphorn concerts to soundtrack dinner. 5 The Fire & Ice Spa at my chic hotel, Bergwelt Grindelwald, just minutes from the gondola, is a welcome change of pace Credit: Anja Zurbrügg 5 Double rooms at Bergwelt cost from £155 Credit: Anja Zurbrügg I arrive early and take the hour-long circular hike around the mountain top to work up an appetite, then order the Monch Spezial, £21 – a charcuterie board of Swiss air-dried beef, home-made sausage, smoked ham and alpine cheese – followed by Alpine-style macaroni, £23, with potatoes, onions, cheese and apple sauce ( Higher still is Jungfraujoch – Europe's highest railway station and the only place in the region where you're guaranteed year-round snow. From the Grindelwald terminal, I take a gondola up to the Eiger railway station, before hopping on a train through the mountain to the top of the glacier. All in all, it takes about 45 minutes, and is well worth it. I send a letter from the highest post office in Europe and take in the panoramic mountain views from the Sphinx Observatory. Sadly, I can't sledge at the Snow Fun Park, due to blizzard-like conditions, so seek shelter in the Ice Palace, a maze carved into the glacier, with incredible frozen sculptures lining the walls. At Crystal Restaurant, views rival the observatory and I tuck into a starter of creamy home-made lobster soup, £12.75, and moreish cheese fondue, £26. As I make my descent, rather than checking tickets, the train conductor hands out chocolates. It definitely beats my usual commute. FYI Double rooms at Bergwelt cost from £155 ( A Jungfrau Travel Pass, from £38, covers unlimited train, cable car, bus and cruises ( Plan a trip at My
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I explored the tiny European country with underground cities and little-known islands
As the sun set over Ta' Cicivetta farm, we were prepared a feast of traditional dishes Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) REACHING for my umpteenth honey and date fritter, I joked that I would have to use the hotel gym after our incredible meal. But my host clutched her pearls and gasped: 'No, no. You have to forget about the gym in Malta, my love.' Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 The colourful, quaint cafes in Valetta's old town in Malta Credit: Getty 4 The Azure Window on the Maltese island of Gozo Credit: Getty Malta derives its name from the Greek word meaning 'place of honey' — fitting, for somewhere I was quickly realising might be Europe's most underrated culinary utopia. And with underground cities, little-known islands and mysterious temples, I would soon discover this wasn't the only surprise Malta had in store. As the sun set over Ta' Cicivetta farm, we were prepared a feast of traditional dishes, all using ingredients sourced from the garden we stood in. This tiny Mediterranean country is smaller than the Isle of Wight, which goes some way in explaining why its food goes under many people's radars; the limited land area means Maltese produce is barely exported, so you have to try it at source. In one dinner, we could taste the different cultures that have called Malta home over the centuries — Italian in the ricotta parcels and focaccia, Arabian in the date-based sweets and bigilla (a hummus-like dip made from beans), Spanish in the bread rubbed with tomato and drizzled in olive oil. Equally intriguing, however, was how easy it is to come across a full English on this faraway archipelago. The British stopped ruling Malta in 1964, but they left behind a love for this breakfast along with other cultural footprints such as UK plugs, driving on the left and speaking English (an official language here alongside Maltese). I got used to the unexpected sight of red telephone boxes on the streets of cities like Mdina, an ancient fortress which otherwise looked like something out of Game Of Thrones. Mdina's winding lanes and picturesque plazas were actually used as King's Landing in the HBO series, and our guide, Audrey, would occasionally hold up a scene on her phone to prove it. But Malta has seen real battles that make Starks vs Lannisters look like a tea party. Martin Lewis warns about strict passport rule that could see you board your flight - only to get sent home on arrival The country was heavily bombed during the Second World War, forcing people to seek refuge in tunnels under the capital, Valletta, built 400 years earlier by knights defending the city against the Ottomans. We had already been given an introduction to Malta's fascinating past at Odyssey — an immersive history experience complete with special effects and rides — now, prepped with head-torches and hard hats, we explored this amazing subterranean network on a tour with Heritage Malta. Visitors walking Valletta's grand streets and enjoying €4 Aperol spritzes in its squares seemed to have no idea what lay beneath their feet — understandable, as the city's ground-level attractions are impressive enough. These include the 16th-century cathedral (home to one of Caravaggio's most famous paintings, The Beheading of St John the Baptist), the Upper Barrakka Gardens with sweeping views over the harbour, and the stunning Grandmaster's Palace, all within walking distance of each other. In fact, pretty much all distances on this island are extremely manageable, especially from where we stayed in St. Julian's. It's a great base for exploring Malta by car, and a stay at the Hyatt Regency there makes coming back after a day of activities almost as appealing as heading out. 4 Tuck into a feast of traditional dishes at the Hyatt Credit: Hyatt 4 The Sun's Nuria Cremer-Vazquez loved the island Credit: Nuria The luxury hotel has pristine sea-view rooms with balconies, as well as a heated rooftop pool, spa facilities and a gym (for anyone who does wish to burn off those honey and date fritters). Its rooms are also triple-glazed so, despite St. Julian's being Malta's nightlife capital, we didn't have to worry about our five-star sleep being disturbed by revellers. Awe-inspiring A short drive from the hotel is the port of Cirkewwa, the jumping-off point for visiting Malta's sister islands, Gozo and Comino, and we were lucky enough to have Audrey — a proud Gozitan — showing us around her home isle. Gozo is an unassuming patch of land with a smaller population than Dover, yet it is home to the awe-inspiring Ggantija temples — megalithic structures that are older than the pyramids. Its vibrant capital, Victoria, is another must-visit, and on a clear day you can even see Sicily from the ramparts of the city. There is plenty to do beyond sightseeing. At Il-Wileg restaurant, you can try your hand at making the authentic Gozitan cheese, which is served all over Malta, under the watchful eye of a local chef — or you can take an idyllic tuk-tuk ride around the island. We rounded off our day trip with a memorable dinner at L-Istorja, set inside the lavish Kempinski Hotel. It serves the rich tapestry of Maltese cuisine with a gourmet twist but without the fine-dining cost — so you might as well order the gold-leaf-coated gnocchi and knock back a few Gozitan wines. Gozo has much of what makes Malta so special — stunning citadels, mind-blowing food, budget-friendly prices, and glittering turquoise sea — though it has noticeably fewer tourists, giving it a more relaxed, off-the-beaten-track feel. The ferry takes 25 minutes and costs less than €5, and you only pay on the return journey. Technically, if you chose to stay, the journey would be free — and you could certainly be forgiven for never wanting to leave.
Scottish Sun
10 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
From foodie favourites to culture hotspots – the best cities in Scotland to visit this year
Scroll down to find out the top spots in Scotland CITY LIFE From foodie favourites to culture hotspots – the best cities in Scotland to visit this year Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE top five best cities to visit in Scotland this year have been revealed. A new study, commissioned by travel gurus LNER, has ranked destinations across five key categories: family-friendly, outdoor experiences, food, culture, and sustainability. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Scotland's top five cities to visit have been revealed Credit: Alamy The comprehensive report analysed 71 towns and cities across the UK, pulling data from a whole host of trusted sources including the Met Office and the MICHELIN Guide. Each city was then scored out of 100 to reveal the ultimate champions. Falkirk was hailed as the most family-friendly city. It boasts the highest number of child-friendly activities per capita, great green spaces and top family friendly hotels. There are plenty of attractions including The Kelpies, The Falkirk Wheel and Kinneil Railway. If you love the great outdoors, head to Inverness. It's packed with 173 walking trails per 100 people, boasts top-ranked nature reserves and soaks up a whopping 1,250 sunshine hours While Edinburgh was named the foodie heaven. The capital city is home to 26 MICHELIN Guide recommended restaurants and a staggering 1,882 dining options. Stirling reigns supreme for culture. Stunning Scots hotel with jaw-dropping views and spa, right in the city centre The historic city has the highest number of bookshops per person, seven museums and a buzzing art and music scene. Lastly, Aberdeen takes the crown for sustainability. The Granite City boasts Scotland's cleanest air, a fantastic range of eco-friendly hotels and loads of great vegan and thrift shopping options. David Flesher, Commercial Director at LNER, said: 'When you're choosing where to go, it's not always easy to know what a city is really best at—especially if you're trying to plan something special. "This research helps take out the guesswork and shows what different places have to offer. "We hope this guide helps people make more informed choices, whether they're planning a day trip or a longer summer break. There are so many brilliant destinations on our route, and this is just one more way to celebrate them.'
