Smoking really can damage your health! Driver accidentally blows up his own car by lighting a cigarette after dousing the interior with air freshener
- The unnamed young man used an aerosol deodoriser in Halifax, West Yorkshire
- Nearby shop windows were also shattered as blast reverberated down the street
- The driver was rushed to hospital for a check-up but escaped with minor injuries
A driver accidentally blew up his own car by lighting a cigarette after dousing the interior with air freshener.
The unnamed young man had been parked in Halifax, West Yorkshire, when he sprayed the inside of his black Seat with the aerosol deodoriser.
He then proceeded to light up a cigarette with the windows still closed.
A driver accidentally blew up his own car by lighting a cigarette after dousing the interior with air freshener in Halifax, West Yorkshire
But the fumes reacted with the spark which caused a massive explosion that blew out the windscreen.
Nearby shop windows were also shattered as the blast reverberated down the street.
The stunned driver staggered out of his vehicle across the shards of glass and debris.
He was rushed to hospital for a check-up but was luck to escape with only minor injuries.
Halifax town centre was completely cordoned off yesterday following the explosion but has since been reopened.
One witness who had been at a nearby bar at the time of the blast said: ‘We heard an enormous bang and then moments later the emergency services arrived.
‘Unbelievably, the driver just climbed out. We couldn’t believe our eyes when we saw he was hardly hurt at all.’
Halifax town centre was completely cordoned off yesterday following the explosion but has since been reopened despite debris from the black Seat still being scattered across the road
The mishap prompted a stern warning from the police force in the area.
West Yorkshire Police said: ‘Shortly after 3pm on Saturday Fountain Street had to be closed.
‘The owner of a car parked on the street had used an air freshener can but not ventilated his car before lighting a cigarette.
‘The fumes exploded and blew out his windscreen along with some windows at nearby business premises.
‘The owner fortunately sustained only minor injuries but this could have been worse.
‘Please can members of the public be careful and follow guidelines when using air freshener cans.
‘The police and fire service have finished their investigation and the road is now reopened.’