Originally Posted by Radar Chief:
Gas tank explosion. Has to be. No other reason I can think of for the spare tire to come flying out.
Looks like a compressed oxygen tank to me... I don't think a gas tank could build that kind of pressure with the gas lines and all, and the absence of fire.. It had to be some kind of compressed tank
Originally Posted by 3rd&48ers:
Looks like a compressed oxygen tank to me... I don't think a gas tank could build that kind of pressure with the gas lines and all, and the absence of fire.. It had to be some kind of compressed tank
That’s what was throwing me for a loop, no fire with the explosion.
Now I’m wondering if it wasn’t an air compressor. I noticed the back end of the car drops to the ground right when it pops so I’m wondering if he didn’t have an air bag rear suspension and the air tank let go.
Originally Posted by Radar Chief:
That’s what was throwing me for a loop, no fire with the explosion.
Now I’m wondering if it wasn’t an air compressor. I noticed the back end of the car drops to the ground right when it pops so I’m wondering if he didn’t have an air bag rear suspension and the air tank let go.
Maybe one of those air compressor tanks you fill up and it sits in the back of a hot car and increases pressure to the point of explosion? There would be no fire with compressed air
Originally Posted by 3rd&48ers:
Maybe one of those air compressor tanks you fill up and it sits in the back of a hot car and increases pressure to the point of explosion? There would be no fire with compressed air
The 53-year-old driver of a minivan who was injured shortly after noon Sunday when a propane tank in his vehicle exploded has been identified.
Alan M. Nielsen of St. Paul was returning to the minivan when the 12:16 p.m. blast blew out all the minivan's doors and windows, sending shattered glass into University Avenue in St. Paul, according to a police report.
The Dodge Caravan was parked in a lot outside Walmart at 1450 University Ave. when the 100-pound tank blew up, said Deputy Chief Pat Smith of the St. Paul Fire Department.
As Nielsen returned to the minivan, and he "either turned the car on or he lit a cigarette -- I don't want to speculate on either one -- there was a spark from something," Smith said. "It was a significant explosion."
Nielsen, who was alone in the vehicle, was taken to Regions Hospital with burn and concussion injuries, Smith said.
Nielsen was listed in good condition at Regions Hospital on Monday morning.
Firefighters determined that a leak in the propane tank had caused it to explode.
Smith said a 100-pound tank is significantly larger than the type that would power a barbecue grill. It measured about 5 feet high and 1 foot in diameter, he estimated.
Mara H. Gottfried contributed to this report.
Emily Gurnon can be reached at 651-228-5522. Follow her at twitter.com/emilygurnon.
