ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — A Hillsborough County man is lucky to be alive after his vehicle became fully engulfed in flames on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge Thursday night.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 29-year-old Gibsonton man was traveling southbound over the bridge when his Ford Taurus began “sparking heavily.”

He pulled over onto the right shoulder, came to a stop and got out of his car.

That’s when his vehicle went up in flames.

Photos taken after the fire show the vehicle completely destroyed, with the front hood entirely burned off and the tires melted.

FHP said the car fire occurred at 6:55 p.m. and were able to clear the roadway just before 8:15 p.m.