Garbage Truck Explodes, Injures 3 In Arlington Heights: Police

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — A Groot Waste Management truck caught fire, and later exploded, Friday on Derbyshire Drive. Two police officers and a firefighter were injured due to flying debris and post blast concussion.

The three were taken by the Arlington Heights Fire Department to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

According to police, police and fire personnel responded to the truck fire on Derbyshire, just south of Euclid Avenue, at around 4 p.m. While assessing the scene, a portion of the truck exploded. Officials said the commercial vehicle is powered by compressed natural gas and operated by Groot Waste Management. Multiple first responders were in proximity when the explosion occurred.

Firefighters aggressively attacked and contained the fire. Officials believe that one of the CNG tanks exploded. Police described the explosion as "significant" with truck parts sent airborne, landing up to several blocks away.

In addition, a shock wave caused substantial property damage in the immediate area. Adjacent single-family homes had sections of roof and siding blown off. Windows were shattered. The first-in fire engine had its windshield shattered, and a cab-mounted public safety radio was knocked off the console, according to police. Airbags on a squad car parked next to the engine activated and deployed.

Forensic technicians documented the scene, including the garbage truck and damaged homes, by using digital and drone photography. Police said any resident who experienced damage to their home should call 911 to properly document the matter.

Euclid Avenue was closed to traffic, from Dryden to Windsor, for more than six hours.

Police officers from the Cook County Sheriff's Police, Illinois State Police, Inverness, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wheeling police departments assisted with traffic and crowd control. Rolling Meadows Fire Department sent an ambulance to the scene.

A heavy-duty wrecker removed the garbage truck from the scene at around 7:15 p.m., according to police. Groot dispatched a clean-up crew and equipment to the scene. Groot removed residual content that was propelled onto adjacent residential properties and Derbyshire Lane.