Overview
- A vehicle blew apart in a gated Totowa neighborhood on Monday morning, July 13, scattering debris across the street and into nearby homes and demolishing most of the car.
- Local, county and federal teams inspected the scene and early findings ruled out a bomb or criminal activity as investigators pursue a technical cause.
- Officials say the car belonged to a plumber who had an acetylene tank in the trunk and that a leaking tank is the preliminary suspected ignition source.
- The driver walked back to his home after the blast, was taken to a hospital for observation with minor ear bleeding, and no other injuries were reported.
- Acetylene is a highly flammable gas used for cutting and welding and can ignite or detonate if it leaks from a pressurized tank; investigators and safety officials will assess how the tank was stored and what safety steps could prevent similar incidents.