A Massachusetts man was “severely injured” when his car exploded, but heroic rescue efforts by neighbors may have saved his life.
The explosion in a man’s Holden car on Saturday is believed to have been caused by a leaking acetylene tank in the trunk, the State Fire Marshal’s Office said. Said in press release.
An acetylene explosion occurred inside a vehicle this morning, injuring one person. The exact cause of the ignition is unclear, but Holden Massfire, Holdenpolisand Massachusetts State Police Assigned to translation: I believe it was a coincidence: https://t.co/s0B0S5t76m pic.twitter.com/FUJfAQzyti
— Massachusetts Department of Fire Protection (@MassDFS) June 1, 2024
When Holden Fire and Police responded to the scene, authorities said they “observed a vehicle with devastating damage and an adult male who had been pulled from underneath the vehicle by a nearby resident.”
“The man sustained serious injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital,” the fire department said in a statement.
Investigators determined that a tank of acetylene in the man’s trunk leaked overnight, but the exact source of the ignition is unknown. However, the explosion is believed to have been accidental.
Related video — Multiple cars catch fire in Boston’s Ted Williams Tunnel:
Before rescue teams reached the disaster site, nearby residents heard the explosion and rushed to deal with the chaos.
“There was a big bang and the house shook,” resident Cindy Benoit said. “The driver’s side left rear wheel was completely under the bottom of his foot. He was lying on his back with his hands outstretched and yelling, ‘Move the car!'”
“He kept saying, ‘Look for my wallet and my phone.’ He was very calm,” she added.
Benoit’s daughter explained that her father “saw the windshield of a car fly into the front yard.”
“The windshield wipers were actually lying by the front door,” she added.
acetylene It is a colorless, compressed flammable gas often used in welding.
