David R.Verdi

KUSA-TV, Denver

AURORA, Colo. — An unidentified Colorado man suffered life-threatening injuries Sunday morning when he jumped out of his vehicle to avoid being burnt by a lit cigarette he had dropped down the front of his jacket — and was run over by his own car.

The incident occurred on the 15900 block of East Nassau Drive in Aurora at 6:37 a.m. while the man backed his vehicle out of a driveway.

As the driver jumped out after the cigarette fell, his van kept rolling backwards and he was knocked to the ground. The front driver's side tire rolled over his head.

He was transported to a local hospital and is in critical condition, though police say he will likely survive.

A relative was in the front passenger seat during the crash and he was not hurt. Alcohol is not a suspected factor in the crash, and police do not anticipate filing any charges. They remind drivers of the dangers of distractions and encourage them to limit distractions whenever possible.