Two Arlington Heights police officers and a firefighter were injured in a dramatic garbage truck explosion in a Chicago suburb on Friday.
The incident happened around 4 p.m. as first responders were addressing a truck fire roughly 25 miles northwest of downtown Chicago.
According to a statement released by the Arlington Heights Police Department, the first responders were injured while assessing the fire. The explosion resulted in “flying debris and post-blast concussion,” leaving the officers and firefighter with non-life-threatening injuries. All three were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Garbage Truck Explosion Leaves Neighborhood Damage
The explosion caused extensive damage in the area, with truck parts catapulted several blocks away. The shockwave shattered windows tore off siding and sections of roofs from nearby homes, and even deployed airbags in a squad car parked nearby. A fire engine sustained a shattered windshield, and its public safety radio was knocked off its console.
