Old truck blown up

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33728, 28 December 1974, Page 1

Old truck blown up

An old truck parked in a wrecker’s yard in Blenheim Road was blown up just before 9 p.m. yesterday. It is suspected that a large quantity of gelignite, probably 101 b to 151 b, placed under the passenger’s seat in the cab caused the blast. The blast spread wreckage over a radius of 120 metres, shattered windows in factory buildings up to 45 metres away, and blew the cab and most of the engine to pieces. The truck canopy was blown off the back.

Traffic Officer B. Stock, who arrived at the yard within 15 seconds, said the explosion was a “loud, deep thud," which almost blew him off his feet.

Station Officer C. Rae, of the Christchurch Fire Bri-

gade, who was fighting a grass fire about a quarter of a mile away, heard “one hell of a bang" and saw a column of smoke rising from the area.

“I thought an M.E.D. substation had blown up," said Mr Rae.

A fire engine from the grass fire went to the yard, but the only fire was in a rubbish tin about 30 metres from the truck, apparently started by a piece of flying debris.

No-one was near the truck when it blew up. although a man was seen leaving the yard soon afterwards. The truck, an Austin from about 1950. was in the yard of Truck and Transport Sales.

The C. 1.8. is investigating.