Oxygen tank explodes in garbage truck compactor
Two City of Birmingham garbage workers escaped serious injury when an explosion occurred on their truck shortly after 7 this morning in Collegeville.
The incident happened in the 3300 block of 34th Street North while garbage was being compacted at the rear of the truck.
Birmingham Police Sgt. J.J. Grant said it appeared a discarded oxygen tank had been mixed in with the garbage. The tank traveled like a rocket out the rear of the truck and landed more than a block away on 34th Street. A bystander picked it up and brought it back to the truck.
Brenda Woods, truck driver, said she heard a loud explosion and went to investigate. She said William Clark and Derrick Matthews were at the back of the truck when the explosion occurred.
She said one of them was walking into a front yard holding his head and complaining of pain. The other was saying his back hurt as he laid down in a vacant lot across the street. Both men were being evaluated in the emergency clinic of UAB Hospital, and their conditions were not immediately available, said UAB Spokeswoman Jennifer Lollar.
Plastic bottles, cans, bits of paper and assorted household garbage littered the street behind the truck. Woods said there was no visible damage to the truck.
Two City of Birmingham garbage workers escaped serious injury when an explosion occurred on their truck shortly after 7 this morning in Collegeville.
The incident happened in the 3300 block of 34th Street North while garbage was being compacted at the rear of the truck.
Birmingham Police Sgt. J.J. Grant said it appeared a discarded oxygen tank had been mixed in with the garbage. The tank traveled like a rocket out the rear of the truck and landed more than a block away on 34th Street. A bystander picked it up and brought it back to the truck.
Brenda Woods, truck driver, said she heard a loud explosion and went to investigate. She said William Clark and Derrick Matthews were at the back of the truck when the explosion occurred.
She said one of them was walking into a front yard holding his head and complaining of pain. The other was saying his back hurt as he laid down in a vacant lot across the street. Both men were being evaluated in the emergency clinic of UAB Hospital, and their conditions were not immediately available, said UAB Spokeswoman Jennifer Lollar.
Plastic bottles, cans, bits of paper and assorted household garbage littered the street behind the truck. Woods said there was no visible damage to the truck.
