Rock band recounts escape as limo goes up in flames in San Jose

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Traveling rock band members tell their harrowing story to ABC7 News of how they barely escaped from a burning limousine in San Jose Wednesday night.

It was a close call for David Cisan and four of his band members from the Red Dragon Cartel.

The Red Dragon Cartel is guitarist Jake E. Lee's band. Lee played guitar for Ozzy Osbourne. Lee was not in the limo Wednesday night.

"I looked back again and I could see a haze of smoke and said, this is bad," Cisan said.

The hummer limo caught fire along Interstate 880 near Stevens Creek Boulevard just before the 280 split. The charred shell of the limo is a tow yard the limo.

The Rockbar Theatre picked up the band from the airport in San Jose just before 6 p.m. Wednesday. Four minutes later the driver noticed something wrong.

"The driver noticed some mechanical issues with the car, which concerned him enough to pull to the shoulder," said California Highway Patrol Sgt. Ed Clarke.

A band member smelled something electrical burning, then blinding smoke.

"We tried to get out and only one side door opened, so we all just climbed out and then we could see smoke coming out of the hood," said Darren James Smith, Red Dragon Cartel band member.

Everyone got out, including the driver.

"Then heard, bang, a huge pop and we ran like little girls. We ran away and in a matter of three minutes the whole front side was on fire," Smith said.

Then panic hit. Their prized guitars, which they brought on the plane with them, were in the trunk in the back. They wouldn't be able to perform without them.

"It's locked and I'm yelling at the driver and he's trying to do it but I guess that point the electrical was burned," Cisan said.

Luckily, they were able to manually pop open the trunk and save their valuable instruments, especially since they're leaving for Japan on their international tour Friday.