Authorities in Salinas, California, have begun looking into the details of the factors that caused the sudden explosion recorded in the accident in which a 16-year-old boy ran a red light while riding an illegal motorcycle. The video, which went viral on social media this week, shows the moment a motorcycle swerves and crashes into the side of a car, creating a fireball within seconds that consumes the car and sets the young man ablaze.
- Understand: A teenage boy is set ablaze after a motorcycle explodes in a ‘fireball’ in the US. The video leaves an impression
Local police said the violent collision in late October caused the motorcycle to hit exactly where the car’s fuel tank was located, leading to an immediate fire. Experts explained that the affected areas – the sensitive joint between the engine and the tank cap – are subject to enough pressure and temperature to cause friction, metal rupture and instant combustion in the event of a fuel leak.
A teenager is set ablaze in a fireball after a motorcycle crash in the US
Initial analysis shows that the teenager’s speed when passing a red light was decisive. Surveillance cameras showed he was crossing the Harden Ranch Road intersection at a high rate of speed, which increased the level of kinetic energy at the time of the crash. This combination significantly increased the risk of explosion, especially since the illegal bikes, which were not approved for distribution, lacked additional structural protection.
Experts also noted that the affected car, which was purchased by driver Briana Vargas less than a week ago, still has a new engine and metal parts, making it susceptible to overheating after a violent crash. According to experts interviewed by local news outlets, this type of side collision is one of the most likely to cause fuel lines to burst and immediately cause a fire.
The driver, whose car was completely destroyed, stressed in a social media post that the fire consumed the car “in seconds”, rendering all attempts to salvage his belongings impossible.
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