A quiet Monday morning in Totowa, New Jersey, turned into anything but when a car exploded outside a row of townhomes, rattling windows, damaging nearby homes, and sending one man to the hospital. The blast happened around 5:30 a.m. in the Hickory Hill development on Congressional Lane, where residents say they were jolted awake by what sounded like a massive explosion.
Neighbors told News 12 New Jersey the driver was inside the vehicle when it exploded but somehow managed to escape. One neighbor said the man’s wife ran outside moments later to tell everyone her husband had made it out alive.
The explosion did not stay contained to the vehicle. Debris and the force of the blast damaged nearby townhomes, blowing out windows and scattering vehicle parts across neighboring properties. Residents several blocks away also reported feeling their homes shake.
Fortunately, authorities say no one outside the vehicle was injured, but the scene quickly drew firefighters, sheriff’s deputies, and members of the Passaic County Sheriff’s bomb squad as investigators worked to determine what happened.
What Investigators Believe Happened
While the investigation remains ongoing, ABC7 New York reported that fire officials believe the driver was starting the vehicle when a leaking acetylene cylinder stored in the trunk ignited, causing the explosion.
According to the station, the injured man is a welder. Fire officials said he was able to climb out of the destroyed vehicle on his own and was alert and coherent before being transported to a hospital for evaluation.
Authorities have not released the driver’s identity, and investigators have not announced a final determination on the cause of the explosion.
The Blast Damaged Nearby Homes
The force of the explosion extended well beyond the vehicle itself.
ABC7 reported that pieces of the car landed on neighboring lawns and crashed through the windows of nearby homes. The blast also reportedly knocked cabinets off the walls inside one residence and pushed a fence out of place.
NewsCopter 7 footage also showed significant damage to a nearby townhouse, prompting building officials to inspect the structure for possible structural damage before residents could return.
Neighbor Sheldon Blaine told ABC7 that the explosion sounded like “a giant boom” before he looked outside and saw what remained of the vehicle.
He said there was “no fire, just a concussive blast,” adding that windows facing the explosion were blown in, and pieces of the vehicle ended up inside his home.
Residents Felt It Blocks Away
The explosion was powerful enough that residents well beyond Congressional Lane knew something unusual had happened.
Neighbor Pete Rizzuto told News 12 New Jersey that his home shook despite being roughly two and a half to three blocks away from the blast.
Investigators have not said whether any criminal activity is suspected, and officials continue working to determine exactly what caused the explosion. For now, the driver remains the only reported injury as neighbors begin cleaning up the extensive damage left behind.