New bodycam video captures sudden garbage truck explosion in Illinois; officers recovering
Police in Illinois have released new footage of the garbage truck that exploded in a Chicago suburb last Friday and left three first responders injured.
The footage, which includes clips from a police officer’s bodycam, shows smoke coming out of the truck seconds before it explodes. Another clip, recorded by a squad car dash-mounted camera, shows debris falling onto the roofs of houses and the ground.
The explosion took place last Friday around 4 p.m. as authorities were responding to reports of a truck fire in Arlington Heights, about 25 miles northwest of downtown Chicago Arlington Heights Police Department had said in a news release.
New footage captures startling garbage truck blast
As authorities were assessing the scene, a portion of the truck exploded, resulting in the officers being injured due to "flying debris and post blast concussion." They had been transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Other first responders present in the area immediately responded to the situation, while "Arlington Heights Fire Dept. personnel aggressively attacked and contained the fire," police had said.
Police, in an update Tuesday, said the two injured police officers are recovering at home, while a firefighter who was also injured in the incident has returned to duty.
"The explosion was significant," police had said in their news release Friday. "Truck parts were sent airborne, landing up to several blocks away. A shock wave caused substantial property damage in the immediate area. Adjacent single-family homes had sections of roof and siding blown off. Windows were shattered. The first-in fire engine had its windshield shattered and a cab-mounted public safety radio was knocked off the console."
Doorbell video captures moment of explosion
Video footage taken nearby and shared by Paul Garanzini shows the moment a portion of the truck exploded, with debris seen flying into the air, followed by a large boom.
The truck, powered by compressed natural gas, was operated by Groot Waste Management, police said, adding the company sent clean-up crew and equipment to the scene, who "removed residual content" from residential properties in the area and the roads. It was not immediately clear why the truck caught fire and exploded, and Groot Waste Management did not immediately respond to Paste BN's request for an update on the incident.
Police, meanwhile, said the "cause of the fire and explosion is under investigation, with the working theory being uncontrolled combustion in a garbage truck hopper, igniting Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) tanks."
Groot’s insurance provider has opened a claim for property damage and residents who were impacted by the explosion have been requested to call (913) 491-2277 with the claim number RC15285 to claim damages, police said.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for Paste BN. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.