Dick Van Dyke Saved From Burning Car, Fans Express Concern
Dick Van Dyke was pulled from a car moments before it became engulfed in flames on a Los Angeles highway on Monday.
The Hollywood icon was spotted pulled over on the 101 freeway in his jaguar by a passer by, Jason Pennington, according to People.com.
Fortunately, Pennington pulled over to check on the 87-year-old entertainer who was slumped over the driver's wheel.
"I'm all, 'You gotta get out, you gotta get out,' and he goes, 'I'm okay, I'm okay,'" Pennington recounted of his interaction with Van Dyck, according to CBS. "So I just pulled him hard."
Pennington managed to get Van Dyck out of the driver's seat of the smoking vehicle shortle before it burst into blames.
The "Dick Van Dyke Show" host did not require medical attention following the rescue and was taken home by his wife Arlene shortly thereafter.
Monday afternoon, Arlene Van Dyke posted a video online of her husband speaking to police officers and revealed the scorched remains of the Jaguar.
"Van Dyke's melted car @iammrvandy He's fine thank God," she added on Twitter.
Furthermore, Van Dyke made light of the scary incident by posting a photo of the blistered remains of the car: "Used Jag for sale REAL CHEAP!!"
The near tragic vehicular incident has many Van Dyke fans wondering about the Hollywood legend's health.
"Dick Van Dyke pulled from a burning car, sheesh isn't he like 80," wrote Twitter user Donnie.
The concerns are not without cause. In April, Van Dyke was forced to cancel an event in New York City due to "fatigue and lack of sleep resulting from symptoms of a yet-to-be-diagnosed neurological disorder," according to his rep, via Entertainment Tonight.
Moreover, Van Dyke canceled other commitments that required travel based on the medical advice he had received at the time, opting to rest at his Malibu home.
However, no update on Van Dyke's health was provided in recent months.
Following the NYC cancelation, Van Dyke took to Twitter asking his followers for help with his medical condition.
"My head bangs every time I lay down," wrote the actor on Wednesday. "I've had every test come back that I'm perfectly healthy. Anybody got any ideas?"
He later added, "Thank you all for your advice!"
Then, over a month later, Van Dyke provided a possible explanation for his condition via social media.
"It seems that my titanium dental implants are the cause of my head pounding," the octogenarian wrote on May 30. "Has anyone else experienced this? Thanks for the replies"
Meanwhile, along his seven-decade-long career, Van Dyke starred in movies as well as on television as a writer, singer, dancer, actor, and producer. He is well known for his role in films "Bye Bye Birdie," "Mary Poppins" and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," as well as for his television series "The Dick Van Dyke Show."
