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Car explodes outside Totowa townhomes likely due to leaking acetylene

A 28-year-old man who was inside the vehicle was able to get out on his own and was taken to a hospital. The blast also damaged several nearby homes, but no other injuries were reported.

Toniann Antonelli

and

Tony Caputo

and

Kaiden Keitt

Jul 13, 2026, 6:23 PM

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Authorities say a vehicle explosion on Congressional Lane in Totowa Monday morning was likely caused by a leaking acetylene cylinder in the trunk.

A 28-year-old man who was inside the vehicle was able to get out on his own and was taken to a hospital. The blast also damaged several nearby homes, but no other injuries were reported.

Residents rushed outside after hearing the blast.

“When we looked out of the window, we saw, well, what was left of the car,” said neighbor Sheldon Blaine. “His wife came out and said her husband was in the car and was able to make it out.”

The force of the explosion damaged nearby homes.

“It blew in our house. Stuff off our doors, our windows were all blown in,” Blaine said.

Drone 12 footage showed emergency crews, sheriff's officers and members of the bomb squad investigating the scene.

Residents several blocks away said they felt the impact.

“The house shook. It was an explosion. The house shook and we're two and a half, three blocks away from that,” said neighbor Pete Rizzuto.

Investigators say there is no evidence of foul play or any threat to the public.

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