Rubbish truck explosion in Illinois injures first responders
Two police officers and a firefighter were injured following the explosion of a rubbish truck in the suburbs of Illinois. The cause of the incident is still under investigation, and the injured officers are in recovery.
According to local police, the incident occurred on Friday afternoon in Arlington Heights, Illinois (north of Chicago). For reasons that remain unclear, an explosion and subsequent fire involved the rubbish truck.
As a result of the explosion, the two police officers and a firefighter who attended the scene were struck by fragments from the truck. They suffered concussions and were taken to hospital.
Footage released by the police shows flames and smoke, with debris and parts of the vehicle scattered across the area. The impact was so strong that pieces of roofing and plaster from nearby house facades were dislodged, and windows in many buildings were shattered. The windscreen of the fire truck was also torn off. Parts of the truck were found several blocks away, and rubbish was strewn everywhere, as highlighted by American media.
"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," police reported.
The police officers are gradually recovering, and the firefighter has returned to duty.
