Food truck's propane explodes; 11 hurt

PHILADELPHIA -- A propane tank on a food truck exploded in Philadelphia on Tuesday, sending a fireball into the sky and injuring at least 11 people, including two who suffered serious burns, police said.

The explosion outside an auto body shop in the city's Feltonville neighborhood caused serious burns to a 27-year-old woman and a teenage girl, said Philadelphia police Chief Inspector Scott Small. He said four others were listed in stable condition at area hospitals and five others, who were in passing cars, were treated and released.

Small said the two critically injured victims suffered serious burns across a substantial part of their bodies.

A utility pole on the other side of the street caught fire. Two cars driving by the explosion also were briefly engulfed by flames, Small said, and five people inside were treated and released by area hospitals.

Small said the 4-foot propane tank that exploded, one of two that fuels the food truck, was found about 150 feet away in a residential backyard.

The city's Fire Department, police detectives and the bomb squad were investigating.

"We want to ensure that this was an accidental explosion. We want to ensure this wasn't anything criminal," Small said. "The bomb squad is investigating to see if there is any foul play. That will be the result of a completed investigation."

A Section on 07/02/2014

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