It could have been much worse then it was. A 27-year-old Hutchinson man was able to escape his 2001 Ford Taurus after it caught fire just before 3:30 p-m at 6 th & Monroe.

Sean P. Brown of Hutchinson was traveling west on 6th when the fire started in what police described as mechanical failure of some kind.

Brown was able to escape the fire unharmed and told police that his engine burst into flames as he was driving.

The vehicle most likely will be a total loss.