A family en route to a Poipet town pagoda on Sunday morning hurried home in horror after the front end of their SUV erupted in a shower of sparks without warning.

Though the car didn’t burst into flames, the electrical discharge did ignite fears of a possible explosion, prompting the startled passengers to bolt immediately.

The malfunctioning motor has since been towed away for repair, and preliminary findings by police point to the possibility of a short circuit.

ANN