A raging car fire in the Lincoln Tunnel ground traffic to a halt Tuesday evening during the heart of rush hour.
The vehicle erupted in flames in the south tube of the tunnel at about 5:30 p.m., creating a travel headache for commuters as all lanes were blocked for about an hour, the FDNY and officials said.
Video posted to X shows a line of cars at a standstill inside the tunnel as the car burns out of control.
Drivers and passengers climbed out of their cars to witness the shocking sight.
A car was consumed with flames in the middle of rush hour inside the south tube of the Lincoln Tunnel Tuesday night. X/@boxcartransit
Traffic ground to a halt for more than hour Tuesday evening inside the Lincoln Tunnel as emergency crews scrambled to put out a car fire. Gary Gastelu via Storyful
An FDNY spokesman said the fire was extinguished by the Port Authority.
One commuter was taken to Mount Sinai West to be treated for injuries. The extent of the victim’s injuries was unclear, according to the FDNY.
Five other victims were evaluated by paramedics at the scene for minor injuries, according to the FDNY.
Drivers said they were stuck for more than an hour in the 8,006 foot-long tunnel.
All lanes of the Lincoln Tunnel were closed for a little more than an hour Tuesday night, bringing traffic to a standstill. X/@boxcartransitOne stranded commuter posted a video on social media of her car finally clearing a long line of emergency vehicles with flashing lights and cleaning crews.
“FINALLY OUT!!!” she wrote. “over an hour delay stuck in the Lincoln tunnel while a car was on fire …”
It is unclear what started the fire.
By 6:30 p.m., traffic was moving through the tunnel again — albeit with delays. Two hours later, the Port Authority said on X the delays had cleared.
