Welder Escapes Car Explosion in New Jersey Suburb
A welder in New Jersey had a narrow escape when his car exploded early Monday morning, leaving residents startled as debris flew into their homes. This incident took place in Totowa, a quiet suburb roughly 20 miles from Manhattan, around 5:30 a.m.
The 28-year-old man managed to free himself from the wreck and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment and observation. Police reports indicate that he was alert when he emerged from the damaged vehicle, though details about his specific injuries haven’t been released.
Initial investigations suggest that a leaking acetylene cylinder in the trunk may have caused the explosion. Local authorities noted that the explosion startled nearby residents, who woke to the sound of shattering glass and debris crashing against their homes.
One neighbor, Sheldon Blaine, recounted the experience, stating, “I heard an explosion around 5:30 in the morning. It was very loud, a loud thud—so that was the first thing I heard.”
After hearing the blast, Blaine and his family looked outside to witness the aftermath. “Then we got up and looked out the window and saw the wreckage of the car. There was no fire, just a concussive explosion,” he recalled. This explosion ended up blowing out the windows of their house, and Blaine mentioned that some car parts were still inside the home.
Due to potential structural damage, the family cannot return home until local officials complete their inspection. The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, along with other agencies, is investigating the incident, but there’s currently no indication of foul play involved in the explosion.
