A garbage truck exploded on Friday afternoon in northwest suburban Arlington Heights, injuring multiple first responders and sending debris flying for blocks. NBC Chicago’s JC Navarette reports.
A garbage truck exploded on Friday afternoon in northwest suburban Arlington Heights, injuring multiple first responders and sending debris flying for blocks.
At around 4 p.m. the Arlington Heights Police and Fire departments responded to the area of Derbyshire and Euclid avenues after a garbage truck powered by compressed natural gas partially exploded, authorities said.
One resident shared doorbell camera footage showing the moment the explosion occurred.
Footage captured by NBC Chicago's Sky 5 helicopter showed debris scattered along the street as a tow truck prepared to remove the garbage truck. Multiple first responders were nearby when the explosion took place, according to a news release from the police and fire departments.
Two police officers and one firefighter were injured by flying debris and sustained a "post-blast concussion." All three first responders were transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries, officials stated.
Authorities said it's believed that one of the compressed natural gas tanks on the truck exploded, causing what they deemed a "significant" explosion. Truck parts landed several blocks away, and a shockwave caused substantial property damage to nearby homes, officials said. Multiple homes' windows had sections of roofing and siding blown off, as well as damaged windows.
Any resident whose home sustained damage was asked to call 911 to document the incident.
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The truck in question was operated by Groot Waste Management, which removed debris that was spread by the explosion. Nicor Gas, the natural gas distribution company for the area, said no natural gas service was interrupted as a result of the incident.
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