Cigarette, Oxygen-Tank Leak Cause New Jersey Car Explosion

New Jersey fire officials say an emphysema patient accidentally caused a car explosion when his cigarette ignited gas from a leaking oxygen tank inside his vehicle.

The Record reports that three people – the man, a city police officer, and Fire Department Lt. Stephen Lindner – were hurt in Tuesday’s explosion in Hackensack. Lindner and the officer apparently escaped serious injury. Details on the man’s injuries were not immediately available. Neither the man nor the police officer was identified.

The fire department lieutenant responded to the call, and was approaching the car with a hose when it exploded. The car roof landed 50 feet away.

Fire Chief Matt Wagner told the newspaper that apparently one of seven oxygen tanks in the back seat of the car was leaking.