“The explosion was significant,” the police release stated. “Truck parts were sent airborne, and substantial property damage occurred in the immediate area.”
Arlington Heights Fire Department personnel swiftly contained the fire, while police and mutual aid teams managed crowd and traffic control.
The Cook County Sheriff’s Police, Illinois State Police, and neighboring departments from Inverness, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, and Wheeling also provided assistance.
Scene Documentation and Cleanup
Video footage captured by Paul Garanzini showed the explosion, with debris flying into the air, followed by a loud boom. Forensic technicians used digital and drone photography to document the damage.
The truck, powered by compressed natural gas, was operated by Groot Waste Management. The company dispatched a cleanup crew to remove debris from residential properties and streets. A heavy-duty wrecker removed the garbage truck from the scene by 7:15 p.m., and affected streets, including Euclid Avenue, were expected to reopen by 10 p.m.