Taxi exploses in NYC, rattles nerves

[The Bos'un]

http://llnw.image.cbslocal.com/0/2009/09/03/175x131/NYCCabExplosion.jpgCourtesy of Drudge: Taxi Cab Explodes Near Times Square... (http://wcbstv.com/local/taxi.cab.explosion.2.1161763.html) A taxi cab parked in midtown Manhattan caught fire before exploding on Thursday morning, rattling the nerves of pedestrians and nearby office workers, but incredibly injuring no one.

The engulfed cab was sitting on the corner of 53rd Street and Seventh Avenue when witnesses said smoke began rising from the car's engine. After the driver exited the car, the engine caught on fire.

Seconds later, the flames spread throughout the vehicle, causing a violent explosion. Witnesses inside a nearby office building told WCBSTV.com they heard a loud "bang," sending workers out of their seats and over to windows to see what happened.

Police and firefighters responded to the scene almost immediately and put the fire out in just a few minutes.

[sgdp]

Whoa. :eek: That'd be a scary sight.

[akarra]

That would certainly scare me - I would immediately be thinking "what's next," not because "it's a bomb aaaaaa" but because of "what if it is a bomb."

[Samm]

Automobile's spontaneously bursting into flames is not that uncommon. I personally know two people who have had that happen. One of the two vehicles was not even running at the time it erupted into flames. Given the number of cars on the road in NYC, I bet it happens several times a month.

[The Bos'un]

I feel sorry for the vendor. Wiped out his business. A street vendor selling framed pictures on the corner apparently lost a good portion of his work.


I was driving down the freeway yesterday and an almost new Chrysler convertable was burning. Seems like on a weekly basis there is a car fire on our freeway. Not sure if any exploded, but apparenty this taxi did just that.

[NascarGirl2448]

I remember hearing a couple of years ago about a cop's car catching on fire (I think it was in Chicago if I remember right) because he parked it on dried leaves that had fallen onto the driveway.

[Samm]

I feel sorry for the vendor. Wiped out his business.

I was driving down the freeway yesterday and an almost new Chrysler convertable was burning. Seems like on a weekly basis there is a car fire on our freeway. Not sure if any exploded, but apparenty this taxi did just that.

Under the right conditions, gasoline is quite explosive... gasoline has a very high volumetric energy density and is extremely volatile. Gasoline fumes, when confined (such as in a partially empty gas tank,) will explode quite violently.

You notice the article says "caught fire before exploding..."

[The Bos'un]

I was worried as I drove by the Chrysler convertible on the freeway, as I understand how Gas reacts to flame.....

[RTchoke]

I feel sorry for the vendor. Wiped out his business.

I was driving down the freeway yesterday and an almost new Chrysler convertable was burning. Seems like on a weekly basis there is a car fire on our freeway. Not sure if any exploded, but apparenty this taxi did just that.

Good grief, where do you live? Beirut? :))

I've never seen a car catch fire yet. I still have a few years to go.

[RTchoke]

I remember hearing a couple of years ago about a cop's car catching on fire (I think it was in Chicago if I remember right) because he parked it on dried leaves that had fallen onto the driveway.

Catalytic converter right?

Can you tell I live in farm country? :)

[skolapper]

ive got a show tommorow....ive had a few shows with my band before but i always get nervous....do any of you experienced giging drummers still get nervous at everyshow?....and what do you do to shake the nerves

[The Bos'un]

You'll be ok if you don't park next to a taxi.. Especially one that is mechanically unsound.

[The Bos'un]

You would be surprised how many car fires happen in a metro area. Damn fossil fuel vehicles anyway, large carbon footprint, inefficient, and dangerous for the environment.

[Samm]

You would be surprised how many car fires happen in a metro area. Damn fossil fuel vehicles anyway, large carbon footprint, inefficient, and dangerous for the environment.

No I wouldn't... ;)

[StoneScratcher]

I was a yellow cab addict in NYC for years and at that time, mostly all the cab drivers last name was "Singh" for some reason. <---this is the truth.

One day, I was in one of the "Singh" 's cabs and a man got run over by another cab--quite a hefty man, out flat on the road with blood. The driver of my cab, "Singh" skillfully drove around the body and debris and got me to work on time...

I still can't get that image out of my head...

I never saw a cab, or any car for that matter, spontaneously combust. I thought that only happened to people who lived alone?

[Samm]

I was a yellow cab addict in NYC for years and at that time, mostly all the cab drivers last name was "Singh" for some reason. <---this is the truth.

One day, I was in one of the "Singh" 's cabs and a man got run over by another cab--quite a hefty man, out flat on the road with blood. The driver of my cab, "Singh" skillfully drove around the body and debris and got me to work on time...
I still can't get that image out of my head...

I never saw a cab, or any car for that matter, spontaneously combust. I thought that only happened to people who lived alone?

I hope you tipped him well... ;)

[StoneScratcher]

I hope you tipped him well... ;)

LOL! Yes, I probably did. I do know I was trembling because the guy flew up in the air and the cab ended up on the sidewalk, nearly hitting other people. The guy was J-walking.

One should never assume you'll win over the determination of a yellow cab. I never found out if the guy lived or died...I couldn't find it anywhere. He looked pretty broken up.

[WhiteHatBobby]

The Panther chassis (Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis, Lincoln Town Car) is notorious for fires. The fuel tank is inside the crush zones for these cars, and they are the most dangerous cars on the road, yet cops still drive them.

[Samm]

The Panther chassis (Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis, Lincoln Town Car) is notorious for fires. The fuel tank is inside the crush zones for these cars, and they are the most dangerous cars on the road, yet cops still drive them.

When your car bursts into flames in a rear end collision it is not considered spontaneous combustion. :razz:

[VCaddy05]

I had my 78 trans am catch fire once. flooded the carb and tried to start it , next thing i know theres smoke comin outa the shaker scoop! opened the hood to a ball of flames lol melted all the weather stripping under the hood. I ran down to the lake where I was parked at with a big metal trash can, filled it up and dumped it all the engine. once the smoke cleared there was a minnow flopin around on the intake manifold LOL. so i closed the hood and drove home!