Propane Tank Explodes in McDonalds Drive-Through
- Posted on April 22, 2012 at 2:09pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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Image source: KESQ-TV
A man suffered second-degree burns Saturday after a propane tank in the back of his pickup truck exploded in the southern California heat.
It happened around 1:45 p.m. in Coachella, Calif. after the 100-degree temperatures apparently caused pressure to build up inside the tank — prompting the tank to start releasing gas as part of a fail-safe mechanism, KESQ-TV reported.
“When the driver of the vehicle exited to try to secure the leak by turning the valve, static electricity completed and the ignition of the fire and explosion was caused by that,” firefighter Justin McGough told the station.
The man was taken to the hospital; his two children in the truck were rescued and escaped unharmed.
According to the Desert Sun, the force of the blast was enough to launch the truck’s tailgate into another vehicle and to engulf the rest of the vehicle in flames. The McDonalds building had minor damage as well. None of the patrons inside were hurt.
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Comments (69)
ncgrammie4
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 8:38pmStupid is as stupid does!! Who rides around, and takes their kids, in a truck with a bomb in the back? On top of that, has the nerve to stop at McDonald’s drive-thru.
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 10:48pmA full propane tank is not a bomb. It is a propane tank. What we have here is a failure of a person to practice proper safety measures. By your standard, the man was recklessly endangering his children by putting them in a 4,000 pound sledge hammer powered by a liquid fuel detonation device that could send shrapnel for a block at any moment. There is risk in everything we do at every moment of the day.
The real story is how we have video footage of this and not footage of Obama’s message to Fenway getting booed in the heart of liberal territory.
Report Post »jtorres1977
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 11:36pmLPG or CNG are not BOMBS, if handled properly. What we can see here is that this person most probably had a BBQ tank in his trunk which was open. It was NOT a motorgas tank because the motorgas tank has a Shut off valve, which closes the tank when there is a sudden lost of presure. I am a Propane tank installer. The propane tank are safer than thr Gasoline tank. If you are going to comment please educate your self. Please see these videos to educate your self:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpEkUMpiYTg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_46pyBNNzFs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=illGWR25cww
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ltIJjsWzLk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ltIJjsWzLk
I hope that this information clarifies all this crap you talking about without knowledge.
Thank you
Report Post »supressorgrid
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 9:10amThis is where you are supposed to carry propane tanks, perhaps itg was a propane powered truck. The insane ones are those that tote tanks in th trunks of their cars.
Report Post »MBridOKC
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 10:42amYeah… Stupid IS as Stupid Does….. You are a fool. How else do people transport propane you goof ball? If a propane tank is a bomb then you step into a bomb on wheels every time you get in your car. Don‘t make stupid posts if you don’t know what you’re talking about.
Report Post »duckface
Posted on April 28, 2012 at 2:38pmMind you, it’s not the guys fault. Everybody on hre that thinks its the guys fault are morons, have you ever purchased propane, most of the time the propane tank is filled by somebody else! The man didn’t know that the thing was going to explode, are you guys saying that he wanted to lose his truck and harm his kids and others…. anybody with a brain knows that that’s not something a normal person would do. It was an accident, and its not anybody’s fault. More than one factor caused it to happen, if it was preventable don’t you think people would have prevented it! Stuff happens, and to talk crap about somebody who got burned and is in the hospital, with no truck is probably the rudest thing you guys could say. That doesn’t make the guy stupid though!
Report Post »Cynic-clinic
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 8:19pmYou think that explosion was bad? Wail till we’re forced to drive around with 200 gallon compressed natural gas (CNG) tanks in our back seats or even worse, hydrogen tanks of the same size.
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 9:04pmI work with propane and it is pretty dangerous!
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 9:08pmSpeaking of which (well, sorta): The cops in some part of NC, I think Sourry County area, bought one of those “green energy” cars, A Pirus, or some sort. Well the thing got eat up with mold. Something in it’s make up gives off mold or creates mold. They had to get rid of it. These people who are going for all that jazz, are being laughed at behind their backs.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 10:20pmsounds like the tank was over filled
Report Post »1casawizard
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 10:44pmYour 200 gal CNG tank will probably be on the roof like on busses. CNG is lighter than air, unlike propane and gasoline which is heavier. I don’t think cars will be equipped with 200 gal. caps.
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 10:51pmWe have the world’s largest known reserves of natural gas. Why can’t we build cars that have NG tanks for those who want to pay less and can live with getting their tanks pressure tested every other year or so and build plants to turn the NG into gasoline for people like you who think that one type of explosive is intrinsically more lethal than the other?
Report Post »Smoovious
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 10:10pmbut some explosives simply ARE more lethal than others…
for example…
the caps I used to put in a cap gun when I was a kid… that’s an explosive… definitely not lethal…
M-80′s we used to fire off as a teen… that’s an explosive… somewhat lethal if not handled properly…
propane tanks, baking in the sun next to an active tesla coil… that’s an explosive… pretty lethal if you’re near it when the coil ignites the venting gas…
1 megaton atomic bomb… that’s an explosive… certainly lethal if you’re next to it, mostly lethal within a mile, etc etc…
treating them all the same is just silly…
hell, technically, pop rocks and rice krispies are explosive! certainly not lethal :P
– Smoov
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 7:17pmHe just wanted that Burger King Broil on his McDonald’s Big Mac. That had to be scary and a first for McDonald’s. Usually you get indoor fights, not outdoor drive through explosions.
Glad it was not too bad. Material things are replaceable, but people are not.
Report Post »Joe Schmuck
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 6:43pmThe new McBoom gives you a Bang for your Buck! _ JK
Glad nobody was hurt!
Report Post »scuba13
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 5:22pmIt’s an Encinom family barbeque, what else did you expect.
Report Post »Captain Crunch
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 5:32pmlol
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 5:13pmThe fries are done.
Report Post »Michigan Vacation
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 4:41pmHopefully, no dogs were harmed in that explosion.
Report Post »Rashomon
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 5:05pmI‘d like a flaming inferno with fry’s please.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 9:10pmWell, if they were, Obbie will clean up the mess for them. Mickey Dee’s may have a new menu: Obbie Dogs, before he gets through with it all. Toppings: Pink Slime and algae.
Report Post »Deepdiver58
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 4:34pmAccording to Michelle, this is another example of how bad fast food is for people. I am sure there will be a new law to prevent this in the future.
Report Post »TexasIndependant
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 4:21pmThis is the new fuel for automobiles as per our commander in chief. Aint he a daisy! The safe clean burning propane for cars and trucks…. Why does everything Obama touches turn to crap so rapidly? anyone know?
Report Post »Delores at CH WV
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 4:20pmBlame it on the McDonald’s toys Not in the Happy Meals……the toys miss their children. The bucket of soldiers are on the loose! Look out Andy . . . where is Buzz?
Report Post »Worldsapart
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 5:16pmClassic!
Report Post »:)
DesdemonasCrew
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 4:18pmI have asked my local lawmakers to introduce a bill in the State Legislatiure to make propane tanks illegal in California. We can’t continue to subject the public to this kind of danger. Also, we should outlaw drive thru’s because the vehicles sit there idling, creating heat and carbon emissions. If there were no McDonalds and drive thru’s, this senseless accident would not have happened. And why is this guy driving a truck when he only has only himself and 2 kids? If he was riding a bike and carrying a sack of Kingsford, this would not have happened. When are you people gonna wake up?
Report Post »alienlogic
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 4:57pmOUTSTANDING! lol.
Report Post »SenorStrange
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 7:05pmFunny you should say that concidering in the neighboring city of Palm Desert, drive thrus are in fact outlawed.
Report Post »lexuslover96
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 3:33pmI bet this is George Zimmerman’s fault. I am sure somehow, California lawmakers will make this a racist, or an overweight thing.. Or now they will say propane should be outlawed and we should all use wind and solar for our BBQ’s etc. California SUCKS!!!
Report Post »Joe Schmuck
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 6:30pmWell at least that would take the heat off Bush.
Report Post »Firefighter 538
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 3:13pmIf you have ever dealt with a tank that had the valve break off from banging around in the back of a truck or had to to suppress a propane fire or pick up the pieces from a tank explosion your opinion of just how safe a propane tank is would change. All the numbers and expansion ratios just fall away in a real fire and there is nothing in the aftermath but body bags and debris.
Report Post »roostercogburn
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 6:43pmActually the best one I ever saw was a guy trying to haul an Oxygen cylinder in the back of a jeepney in the Philippines, without the cap on I might add, it didn’t go very well, went right through the floor, through the frame and went right up the hill into the jungle never to be seen again, was pretty loud.
Report Post »I have a hard time believing we have morons in this country that would drive a pickup around with a propane tank rolling around in the back, but it would have helped it the tank had not been over filled, guessing it was a 100 pounder, they are about the only small tanks left you can over fill. of course we are talking about California, California has been going downhill for decades, I get out there at least twice a year and it’s getting harder to find english on any of the radio stations when you are driving around, they could start calling it Mexafornia now and be done with it, it’s doomed.
Grew up around propane only time I ever was a little scared was when we were pumping tank cars out into trucks that derailed in a gulley, the big covers were all bent up and had to use our special spark proof tools to pound them open, must have been about 20,000 gallons in a tank car.
Steev
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 3:07pmEscaping fumes ( aka.fuel ) – plastic bedliner which will produce static electricity ( a spark aka. ignition point ) via friction. hmmm, not a good combination.
Report Post »IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 2:52pmEven thought it may not have been smart to be carrying the tank but I hope the driver will be ok and glad passengers were ok.
This is no time to make jokes and no one knows when they may do something that may seem innocent but could also be a potential for harm.
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 3:55pmit is always time to make jokes, laughter eases tension. I hope the guy is alright, but that was a pretty cool explosion.
Report Post »IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 4:46pmHidden Lion — You may not believe it but I do have a great sense of humor. I guess I am a little down with any kind of a fire as I knew someone that died in a fire and someone that hurt in a fire which was so painful to go through the healing process. I will soon leave his post and go on with life and I am so sorry if I offended you, Have a great day.
Report Post »GPS-Tech
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 5:00pmIn a night club called 6400 in Houston 23 years ago in this was playing.
P.W.E.I. – Defcon One
Report Post »No time to sleep it’s defcon one. No time to fear it’s defcon one. No time to eat so get me some… big mac, fries to go, get me big mac, fries to go.
scroadkill
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 2:52pmA propane tank is filled with liquid propane, it is not flammable. Propane boils at -44 degrees Fahrenheit creating vapor which expands at 277 times it’s initial size. When a propane tank is subject to a large amount of heat the pressure inside the tank can cause the pressure relief valve to release excess pressure to keep the tank from failing. Simply a 100 degree day would not cause this, an over filled tank more than likely, or one painted a dark color. Propane tanks are to be painted a non heat absorbing color. Do not be afraid of installing gas appliances in your home or having a propane tank next to it supplying gas appliances. propane accidents are caused by human error, seldom by the environment.
Report Post »dnewton
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 3:08pmA guy I worked with was carrying two propane tanks down a hill to his trailer when one of them let all of the gas out of a split in the side of the tank. He was knocked down and can remember seeing a cloud of propane hugging the ground all around him but moving down hill toward his trailer. His wife was killed when the propane got to the hot water heater in the trailer. He was burned when the flames came rushing toward him from the trailer. The tank was over pressurized, possibly subjected to internal rust as a result of water vapor in the gas. I wonder if the truck ignited the explosion or the cooking fires inside of McDonald’s.
Report Post »roostercogburn
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 6:51pmI would have to agree with you, the guy most likely had an over filled 100 pounder in the back of his pickup, the tanks are SAFE, it the moron factor that causes the fires and explosions, all the tanks now day’s are supposed to be hydrostatic tested and inspected so they are safe, remember some years ago before we had to do the testing.
Report Post »I remember one really cold winter we had a temp boiler set up in a huge trailer with 4 1000 gallon tanks and a vaporizer there, the wind blew the pilot out in the vaporizer and it was so cold I had to take a torch and warm up the pipes to boil the liquid propane out of the vapor lines so we could get the burners lit again, sure freaked out people watching me do that.
1casawizard
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 10:02pm@SouthCacalackyRoadKill. You have schooling and probably are quoting from book the specs. concerning propane /handling. I’m an old guy 58yo with experience welding chains and handles on 100 lb. propane tanks, expanding ferrous gasoline tanks using ether, then brazing holes and pinchwelds. I don’t think its too dangerous if a person understands their limitations. Older 26gal/100lb propane tanks did not have pressure relief valves. You can still get them filled. Around my neck of the woods when you fill any propane tank, the cashier shows you pics. of an explosion of someone who had a 100lb cylinder in the sun (which was laying in bed of truck) that had blown up in 85 degree weather. It ruined 2 peoples day plus the house it was parked in front of. People need to have/get sense when it comes to stuff that can kill you. Folks amaze me constantly. The circus is always in town and there are plenty of clowns.
Report Post »roostercogburn
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 11:21pm1casawizard I have never seen chains or handles welded on 100 pound propane tanks, or any with out safety valves built into the valves that were in the top of the tanks, look at the back of the valve, that is where the safety valve vents,, that has been the law for decades now, we did have a guy that lived around where I grew up that tried to weld a 3/4 inch coupling onto a 100 propane tank, it didn’t work out very well for him, I herd the bang from about 3 miles away, his dogs ate good that day, wasn’t much of him to pick up afterward, we went around with sticks and spoons with the coroner for hours
Report Post »Firefighter 538
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 2:51pmPay attention…A PROPANE Tank in the SUN bumping around in the back of your truck is NOT A GOOD THING! It can kill you and several others in the area. Some people don’t have the common sense god gave a goat.
Report Post »NLN
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 4:18pmWas it a dot cylinder, or was it a motor fuel tank for lp powered vehicle. Those are two different items.A pick up tank is very safe. DOT cylinders are like little bombs.
Report Post »1casawizard
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 10:34pm@NLN. Probably a DOT with pressure relief. It blew and person went to turn off valve (WTF) provided ignition.
Report Post »spirited
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 2:48pmGreat, …..give terrorists more ideas: propane tank & static electricty; no more vests.
>Wellness to all those involved in this terrible accident.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 3:21pmLike that idiot in Times Square a couple of years ago. He couldn’t get the propane tanks to explode on purpose, and this guy did it by accident. Let’s hope they containue to remain just as inept.
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 4:00pmTerrorists already have the ideas. Propane was used successfully by the Oklahoma city bomber to set off his fertilizer mixture. Any canned fuel makes for a satisfying boom when subjected to flames ( try tossing a small can of spray paint into a camp fire…nice mini mushroom cloud, looks cool on film.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 4:08pmPropane tanks are a staple part of Mid-Eastern life, they cook and heat homes with it, and for the most part use the exact type of tanks Americans use. But I’m sure the government would love to take them away from Americans or have a special Cooking-out-license or permit to get them.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 4:22pmITSJUSTTIM, Wow, excellent point Tim. I can definately see the government trying to put even more regulations onto propane and these containers in an attempt to get people so frustrated and not use them. Or to make retailers frustrated about carrying the tanks or refilling them. The EPA has been after charcoal for quite a while now.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 4:36pmHIDDEN_LION, I had not heard or read that propane was used in that explosion. The morning that happened I had just pulled into Ft Irwin‘s Star Wars Center to prepare for some time in the desert observing part of the 4th INF Div’s 3rd BDE for a doctrinal review. When I got to my on post hotel room and turned on the TV I heard the news. Spent the rest of the time in the desert and never heard anything else until I returned to the hotel. Then I heard that Clinton was trying to blame Limbaugh, and that McVeigh, was already in custody, and I believe Nichols was too, but not sure. They were still looking for that supposed third part and showing the police artist’s sketch.
Report Post »Speaking of that sketch, it looks an awful lot like Jose Padilla. Another funny thing is that Nichols’ brother in law is named Padilla. After this Padilla’s arrest and one or two speculative questions in the news regarding the likeness I never heard or read anything else about that. I am not a conspiracy theorist, but the media became oddly quiet and suddenly.
TT1488
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 2:31pmWho cares. Fat people like to eat all day. What a lame news story. What about all the Whites being attacked due to trayvon. Anyone care to report on that? Of course not.
http://www.battalion14.org
Report Post »cgnick
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 2:58pmRace baiter. You are no better than the media that has the whole Trayvon thing out of proportion or the black panther party.
Report Post »Cruelnunusual
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 2:58pmHaha, nobody here knows who TT is but you n me.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 2:30pmThat was a supersized explosion.
Report Post »TT1488
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 2:32pmhaha I was just getting to that. SS Super Sized
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 2:37pmHamburglar caused it…
Report Post »randy
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 2:28pmIt’s California, so somehow this has to be McDonalds fault!
Report Post »LeadNotFollow
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 2:24pm…
Report Post »Glad no one was killed.
So sad for this man and his kids.
I pray that the man makes a full recovery.
God bless.
The-Monk
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 2:24pmLooks like fire and then an explosion or a second explosion; maybe the gas tank? Glad the Children are OK. Hope he’s OK also. I wanted to get a small propane range for cooking if the electricity goes down for a few days or weeks. The only reason I haven’t is hearing stories like this.
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 2:38pm“There was like, this fire….and it like, melted the sign…..and like, made a lot of smoke……..and like, they had to emancipate..er, I mean *********, er, I mean get everyone out of the eating place, because….fire is like, totally hot and stuff.”
These are the people that deliver us the events of the day.
Report Post »FloridaFarmGirl
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 2:19pmGlad nobody was hurt. Really glad this did not happen in Florida for once.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on April 22, 2012 at 2:12pmBig Mac… passes Gas…
Report Post »