A car exploded on a quiet New Jersey street Monday morning, sending debris flying into nearby homes — and authorities say a leaking acetylene tank in the trunk is likely to blame.
Story Snapshot
- A car exploded at about 5:40 a.m. on Congressional Lane in Totowa, New Jersey, injuring the driver and damaging nearby homes.
- Totowa Mayor John Coiro said the driver is a plumber who had an acetylene tank in the trunk, which may have leaked and ignited when he started the car.
- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and a bomb squad ruled out a bomb as the cause.
- The investigation is still ongoing, and no official final cause has been confirmed.
Car Blows Apart in Totowa Neighborhood
The blast happened around 5:40 a.m. on July 13, 2026, at Hickory Hill Estates in Totowa, a residential townhome community. The driver, a 28-year-old man, was inside the car when it exploded. He was taken to a hospital with injuries. Debris flew across the street and struck nearby homes, causing property damage. Neighbors were shaken awake by the force of the blast.
One neighbor, Sheldon Blaine, told reporters there was no fire — just a powerful concussive blast. That detail stood out, since acetylene fires often produce visible flames. Still, the absence of fire does not rule out a gas explosion. A similar incident in Holden, Massachusetts, resulted in a serious injury and no significant fire damage, with investigators later confirming an acetylene leak as the cause.
Acetylene Tank Pointed to as the Likely Cause
Mayor Coiro told reporters the driver is a plumber who carried an acetylene tank in his trunk. First responder scanner audio captured the transmission: “Possibly acetylene. Plumber started the car and it ignited.” Authorities believe the tank was leaking, gas built up inside the car overnight, and a spark from starting the engine set it off. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the bomb squad both responded and ruled out any explosive device.
This type of accident has happened before. A British Columbia investigation found that a service van with an acetylene welding system exploded after gas leaked overnight and was ignited by a small electrical spark from a key fob. Acetylene is highly flammable and can build up fast in an enclosed space. Tradespeople who carry these tanks in their vehicles face real risk if tanks are not properly sealed and stored.
Investigation Still Open, Some Details Unclear
Despite the strong early indicators, the mayor was careful to note the cause is not yet confirmed. “Preliminarily, we’re not sure if that’s what caused the explosion,” Coiro said. No official forensic report has been released. There is also a small conflict in the reporting — some outlets identified the driver as a plumber, while at least one called him a welder. Both trades use acetylene tanks, so the distinction does not change the core theory, but it does show the investigation is still sorting out details.
ALERT: Small town in New Jersey was rocked this morning after a plumber got in his car and it exploded.
Residents in Totowa were awakened at around 5:40 AM to the sound of a car explosion.
Officials believe an acetylene tank, a highly flammable gas used for welding, was slowly… pic.twitter.com/KEOUgjnI7M
— E X X ➠A L E R T S (@ExxAlerts) July 13, 2026
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office has not issued any update since the morning of the explosion. Until forensic results are released, the acetylene theory remains the leading explanation — backed by scanner audio, the mayor’s statement, and the ATF’s ruling out of a bomb. What this story really highlights is a serious safety issue: hazardous gas tanks transported in personal vehicles can turn deadly in seconds, and tradespeople deserve clear guidance on how to store them safely.
Sources:
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