A powerful explosion on Monday morning shook the small town of Totowa, New Jersey, after a welder's vehicle detonated due to a flammable gas tank in its trunk. The blast, which occurred around 5:40 a.m., sent vehicle parts flying across the street and into a nearby residence.
The 28-year-old driver had just started his Audi when the explosion occurred. Authorities believe a leak from an acetylene tank stored in the trunk led to the blast. The force of the explosion shattered windows, dislodged cabinets, and damaged a neighbor's fence. Pieces of the car landed on a home's lawn and reportedly went as far as a clubhouse and pool on the other side of the street.
Witnesses described hearing a loud boom. "We heard an explosion around 5:30 in the morning. It was very loud, it sounded like a giant boom," said Sheldon Blaine, a neighbor. "We got up and we looked out the window and we saw the remains of a car." Blaine noted that there was no fire initially, only a concussive blast that blew out windows in his home. He also reported that car fragments were found inside his house.
Another resident reported that a neighbor's husband was injured after being in his car at the time of the explosion.
The driver managed to exit the vehicle and walk away, remaining conscious and coherent, before being transported to a hospital. His current condition and identity have not been released.
Officials do not suspect foul play in the incident. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the bomb squad investigated and determined that the explosion was not caused by a bomb. The Buildings Department is currently assessing nearby homes for structural damage, and residents have been temporarily unable to re-enter their homes pending the investigation's completion.
Assemblyman Al Barlas acknowledged the swift response of first responders, including police, firefighters, and EMS personnel, for ensuring the safety of the residents.