Driver Hurt After Car Explodes At Lincoln, RI Gas Station

LINCOLN, RI (CBS) – One person is hospitalized after a car exploded at a Lincoln, Rhode Island gas station Tuesday afternoon. The explosion caused extensive damage to the car near one of the pumps.

The blast scattered car parts everywhere, prompting immediate fears it was somehow related to the gas pumps at the Sunoco station. "He wasn't pumping the gas as it happened," said Lincoln Fire Chief Richard Andrews.

As investigators scoured the wreckage, it became apparent the blast had nothing to do with the gas pumps or the hybrid vehicle itself. The Toyota Prius is owned by a plumbing company and there was a leaking acetylene tank in the trunk. The fumes were ignited when the driver hit the button to open the gas tank cover.

The driver suffered only a minor arm injury.

A Lincoln police officer working a nearby detail ran over to put the fire out with his department issued fire extinguisher.

The Fire Marshal is investigating the incident.