According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), on Thursday, a man in a SUV in Van Nuys, Los Angeles County, ignited some propane tanks stored in the car while lighting a cigarette, causing the vehicle to be blown to pieces. Fortunately, the man only sustained minor injuries.
SkyFOX captured the scene near the intersection of Van Nuys Blvd and Sherman Way, where a white Toyota 4Runner was completely destroyed by the explosion.
CBS reported that around 10:30 pm that evening, firefighters and police quickly rushed to a supermarket parking lot in the 7200 block of Van Nuys Blvd after receiving a call about the SUV explosion.
Police stated that when rescue personnel arrived at the scene, the man living in the car involved in the incident told them that there was an explosion while he was lighting a cigarette. Investigators confirmed this to be a propane explosion incident. The man has been taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Debris from the exploding vehicle scattered, with a piece getting stuck in a nearby tree. Resident Ken Smith said the explosion was deafening, with the sound echoing at least a few blocks away. He described the noise as “shaking the windows like an earthquake.”
“But it came and went quickly,” he added, saying he saw neighbors standing outside their homes, perplexed by the loud blast.
Following the explosion, LAPD cordoned off the parking lot. Police have not provided further details.