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CLEARWATER — Luis Perez's 1996 Pontiac Firebird had been acting up since Thursday's storms. It sounded a bit like a lawn mower, and his engine light kept flashing.
It was a little after 2 p.m. Sunday and Perez, 33, of Jupiter, had stopped by an oil-change shop.
The workers there told him that his car seemed okay, but he should have it checked later anyway, he said.
As Perez headed south on U.S. 19, he heard someone yelling that his car was on fire. He peeked in the rearview mirror and saw flames.
He pulled to the side of the road and parked. Perez leaped out and bolted away.
He turned back to see his Firebird ablaze.
Later Sunday, he was mourning the loss of items inside: his professional portfolio and pictures of his 11-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter.
But he's grateful to whoever warned him.
"I know I could have been dead or I could be really burnt, and I'm lucky to be alive," Perez said.
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