Cafe in Prospect council building set alight, car bursts into flames after crash

A cafe within Prospect Council’s historic town hall has been damaged in a suspicious fire. Meanwhile, a car has burst into flames at Aldinga after an alleged drug driver crashed twice.

An eatery within Prospect’s historic old Town Hall has been damaged in a suspected arson attack.

Smoke was billowing from the building on Prospect Rd, within Creperie and Co, about 3.45am Thursday.

The sprinkler system inside the centre was able to douse the fire before it could take hold and the flames were out when fire crews arrived.

Damage to the Prospect eatery was minimal as the fire was doused by the sprinkler system. Picture: Emma Brasier

Police are investigating the suspicious building fire at Prospect. Picture: Emma Brasier

The incident caused minimal damage worth less than $40,000, and police fire cause investigators were examining the scene on Thursday morning.

It follows a fire in September that gutted two popular Prospect restaurants in a historic building nearby – Sunny’s Shop Asian Street Food and Mr Chan at Rosemont Hall. Investigators have ruled out arson as the cause of that fire.

Meanwhile, an alleged drug driver was lucky to escape serious injuries after she crashed twice before her car burst into flames at Aldinga Beach.

The initial crash happened at the roundabout on Port Rd and Main South Rd about 8.45pm Wednesday when the car smashed into a light pole.

The collision popped one of the car’s tyres but it continued south along Main South Rd and crashed into a ditch a short time later at the intersection of Norman Rd, before catching fire.

The driver, a Hindmarsh Valley woman, 38, did not suffer serious injuries and allegedly tested positive in a drug test.

The positive result was sent for further forensic analysis and her extensively burnt vehicle was towed from the scene.

In another overnight incident, a stolen car was torched at Burton.

A member of the public reported seeing the vehicle on fire in the driveway of a business on Waterloo Corner Rd about 5.20am Thursday.

Fire crews contained the blaze but the sedan was completely destroyed by fire, which is being treated as suspicious.

Anyone who witnessed any of the incidents should call police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.