Plumber’s Infiniti SUV explodes on Queens block, damaging homes and rattling neighbors

The Infiniti QX56 exploded on 133rd St. near 131st Ave. in South Ozone Park about 6:45 a.m. — just minutes before the plumber and his family were about to get into the vehicle.

Nov 8, 2024 - 16:20
 0
Plumber’s Infiniti SUV explodes on Queens block, damaging homes and rattling neighbors

A plumber’s SUV exploded on a quiet Queens block early Friday, damaging nearby homes and cars and rattling neighbors, officials said.

The Infiniti QX56 blew up on 133rd St. near 131st Ave. in South Ozone Park about 6:45 a.m. — just minutes before the plumber and his family were about to get into the vehicle.

“I was cooking,” plumber Jeremy Harricharam told the Daily News Friday, adding that he was about to leave the house with his wife, child and mother so he could  drop them all off before beginning his work day.

“This happened five minutes before all of us were going to go into that vehicle,” said Harricharam, 41, pointing at the pitted wreck of his SUV. “I don’t know what to think. I’m just in shock.”

Miraculously, no one was injured when a powerful explosion erupted from an Infiniti QX56 SUV parked outside of 131-09 133rd Street in Queens on Friday Nov. 8, 2024. 0826. At least four homes were damaged in the blast, with blown out windows and other property damage observed. An older model Nissan SUV parked directly across the street was also destroyed. (Theodore Parisienne for New York Daily News)
An SUV exploded in Queens on Friday, authorities said. The blast damaged. several cars and homes. (Theodore Parisienne for New York Daily News)

No injuries were reported.

FDNY officials believe a ruptured gas-powered torch that plumbers use to sweat and solder pipes sparked the blast.

The massive explosion rocked 133rd St., witnesses said. It turned the SUV into a mangled piece of melted metal, damaged two cars it was parked next to, blew out windows and damaged the exteriors of six nearby homes, an FDNY spokesman said.

Miraculously, no one was injured when a powerful explosion erupted from an Infiniti QX56 SUV parked outside of 131-09 133rd Street in Queens on Friday Nov. 8, 2024. 0826. At least four homes were damaged in the blast, with blown out windows and other property damage observed. An older model Nissan SUV parked directly across the street was also destroyed. (Theodore Parisienne for New York Daily News)
An SUV exploded in Queens on Friday, authorities said. The blast damaged. several cars and homes. (Theodore Parisienne for New York Daily News)

Firefighters put out the flames within a few minutes. The force of the blast was so huge that the FDNY called in the NYPD Bomb Squad to assist in the investigation.

No criminality was immediately expected.

Miraculously, no one was injured when a powerful explosion erupted from an Infiniti QX56 SUV parked outside of 131-09 133rd Street in Queens on Friday Nov. 8, 2024. 0826. At least four homes were damaged in the blast, with blown out windows and other property damage observed. An older model Nissan SUV parked directly across the street was also destroyed. (Theodore Parisienne for New York Daily News)
An SUV exploded in Queens on Friday, authorities said. The blast damaged. several cars and homes. (Theodore Parisienne for New York Daily News)

Six lithium-ion batteries for power tools in the SUV also caught fire, but that was secondary to the gas canister explosion. The ruptured gas can may have been leaking in the SUV until something ignited it, an FDNY official said.

Harricharam’s brother Dinell confirmed plumber’s tools were inside the SUV, but couldn’t think of anything that would have exploded.

What's Your Reaction?

like

dislike

love

funny

angry

sad

wow

CryptoFortress Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.