Exploding Transporter

[Peter Jones]

http://www.theage.com.au/national/ma...1022-h9bw.html

No indication as to cause yet. I'm guessing a leaking gas bottle of some description.

An apprentice has told of his miraculous escape after he was hit by a "massive" blast triggered by a remote vehicle key.

The explosion destroyed a tradesman's van and severely damaged nearby houses in Chelsea Heights, in Melbourne's south, about 6am.

Plumber Mick Ponton’s new VW Transporter van was in the driveway of his Dunscombe Place home when one of his apprentices unlocked it with a keyless device from about 10 metres away.
Mick Ponton this morning. Photo: Penny Stephens

Apprentice Luke Clark, 17, was standing three metres from the van when it exploded after his workmate pressed the button to unlock the vehicle.

‘‘He’s unlocked it and there was this big explosion and I went flying into the fence,’’ Luke said.

‘‘I was only three metres from the car when it happened. There was just a massive boom and off I went.

‘‘When I got up and turned around I just saw things flying everywhere. Front of the house has almost been completely taken off.’’
Speaking 90 minutes after the explosion, Luke said his ears were still ringing but he had escaped without injury.
‘‘I’m pretty lucky. I think I might get on the Powerball tonight.’’
Mick Ponton’s son Ryan, 16, said he was asleep when he heard the explosion.

‘‘I saw my door fly off its hinges. My window went out. My wall started collapsing in. I grabbed some underwear and ran as fast as I could.
‘‘It was like in a movie scene when you run and see stuff falling off the walls in a big fire. Scary as.
‘‘I called to my brother who was in the room next to me and I called to my dad and we just ran straight past the van because we thought it was going to go up again.’’
Ryan said the two apprentices who survived were lucky ‘‘the explosion went up rather than out’’.
‘‘It just blew up straight away. I’ve never heard anything like it. I dead set thought my whole house was caving in,’’ Mr Ponton told The Age.
‘‘I was inside when my apprentices unlocked and they’re still shaking,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s just so scary. They’ve blocked off the whole street. I can’t even get near my house now.’’
Mr Ponton said the blast had blown windows out of nearby homes and shattered windscreens in cars.
A Country Fire Authority spokeswoman said it received multiple calls about an explosion shortly after 6am and residents from four homes were evacuated.
Police said no injuries had been reported.

[Tim]

Just saw this on the news and I had a gut feeling that it was a VW. I think ill make sure i hide behind a tree whilst unlocking my car until they can confirm it was caused by a gas bottle

[Peter Jones]

That's a pretty energetic explosion.

Perhaps one of those aprentices has learnt a valuable lesson about turning off the oxy set at the bottle and why you're not allowed to transport flammable gasses in the enclosed cabin of a vehicle.

Pete

[Peter Jones]

This article mentions an oxy set and there's video of the scene too.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574...15-421,00.html

Pete

[velly_16v_cab]

i heard this on the new on the drive to work, i thought it was another gang land killing lol

[Swallowtail]

That's a pretty energetic explosion.

Perhaps one of those aprentices has learnt a valuable lesson about turning off the oxy set at the bottle and why you're not allowed to transport flammable gasses in the enclosed cabin of a vehicle.

Pete

If the tradesman was transporting gas bottles in his van then I dare say the work safety people will have something to say to him too! Not a sensible plan for reasons which would now appear to be obvious and apparent LOL...

[anthony_VWJET]

"...I grabbed some underwear and ran as fast as I could."

What would be the first thing you grab? LOL

[Jayse]

What would be the first thing you grab? LOL

Well i'm guessing he had to change out of the ones he was wearing at the time of the explosion!

[Peter Jones]

Anyone wanna buy a cheap Kombi?

[neil]

Just show's you how safe these new Veedubs are.

To be able to stand 3 metres away and survive.