Woman held after her car sparks fire

A woman in Northern California was so high on pain pills that she didn’t realize her car had a flat tire and that sparks from its rim had set the vehicle and surrounding forest on fire, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Rene Ilene Hogan, 44, had a suspended license and was driving under the influence of a controlled substance when she was unable to explain to police why she was driving the burning 2002 Kia Rio, the CHP said.

The incident occurred Sunday as Hogan was driving in West Point in Calaveras County, according to an arrest report.

Her car’s right rear tire became flat, but she continued driving until it wore down to the metal rim, Officer Tobias Butzler said.

As the rim ground against the road, sparks f lew into the drought-parched grass lining the highway, igniting several fires and, ultimately, Hogan’s vehicle.

“She knew she was driving, but was oblivious to any of the carnage she was causing,” Butzler said.

Another driver saw the burning car and tried to alert Hogan, but she didn’t respond, authorities said. The motorist drove in front of her and stopped, forcing Hogan to stop, Butzler said. The driver and others in the community pulled Hogan from the car and called police.

The tire rim had been ground down three inches, Butzler said.

The flames in the grass grew into the Willow fire, which had burned 450 acres and was 30% contained as of Monday, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.

In addition to Hogan being booked on suspicion of driving under the influence and with a suspended license, Cal Fire investigators said they would seek additional charges against her for causing a fire that burned a home and state forest during a state emergency.

Last year, the area was ravaged by the Butte fire, which killed two people and destroyed hundreds of homes in Calaveras and Amador counties.