Phoenix police: U-Haul truck explodes during out-of-state move

PHOENIX - Police say a U-Haul truck exploded while a man was moving all his belongings out of state Friday morning in Phoenix.

According to Phoenix police Sgt. Steve Martos, the explosion happened near the Loop 101 and 51st Avenue.

A 51-year-old man was driving the U-Haul truck when a barbeque grill and a propane tank inside may have shifted, opening the propane tank, Martos said.

Propane was released and caused an explosion, he said.

Martos said a tool box then flew out of the rear of the U-Haul truck, hitting the man’s personal vehicle along the hood, windshield, and top of the car.

A mattress also landed on top of the man’s vehicle and caught fire, Martos said.

The driver pulled over and was able to remove the mattress from the top of his vehicle, but it was too late.

The entire back of the U-Haul was destroyed and his personal belongings were strewn along 51st Avenue.

A small compact car next to the U-Haul at the time of the explosion suffered damage to the passenger side.

The 22-year-old woman driving that car and the man driving the U-Haul were not injured in the incident.