Posted on 05/11/2006 11:00:35 AM PDT by hoosierboy
LaPORTE - A Michigan City man caused a two-vehicle collision, but his actions could have led to a greater disaster by smoking a cigarette near the gasoline and oil spilled from the wreckage.
Aaron Miller, 23, of 1210 W. Coolspring Ave., now finds himself facing possible jail time, accused of attacking a police officer who plucked the lit cigarette from his lips.
Tuesday just before noon, LaPorte County police were called to U.S. 20 and Indiana 39 in Springfield Township for an accident with injuries.
Miller immediately told police he ran a red light, causing the collision.
While occupants in the other vehicle were being treated by LaPorte County Emergency Medical Service personnel, Miller was walking around the gas and oil at the crash site puffing a cigarette, police said.
Kankakee Township volunteer firefighter Kevin Wheatbrook asked him to put out the cigarette or take it away from the puddles of fuel.
Police said Miller walked to a nearby parking lot then returned smoking the cigarette beside EMS Supervisor Rob Quinn, who was trying to place one of the injured parties on a backboard.
Quinn also told him to put out the cigarette due to the potential danger.
Miller became verbally combative, drawing the attention of deputy Andy Hynek, who also requested Miller to put out the cigarette. After being cussed at,Hynek reached over and pulled the cigarette out of Miller's mouth, the report said.
According to police, Miller pushed his body into Hynek's. He was taken to the ground and handcuffed.
Miller was charged with interfering with a firefighter, resisting law enforcement and disorderly conduct, all misdemeanor offenses.
LaPorte County police fire investigator Mike Kellems said a cigarette burns hot enough to ignite fuel, especially the more flammable vapors that emit from gasoline. He said there was great potential for the fuel to ignite and cause an explosion.
“That's the most dangerous thing. People just don't realize how dangerous these gasoline vapors are,'' Kellems said.
Details on the crash itself were not available because a police accident report had not yet been filed, police said Wednesday afternoon.
Only if he dies from it and hasn't reproduced any offsping yet.
Nobody's saying it can't happen, and smoking near a puddle of gasoline is one of the most mind-bendingly stupid things you can do. But gasoline doesn't ignite that easily.
Reminds me of that scene from "The Birds" of the guy discarding a lighted match in front of a gasoline spill as everybody was waving at him.
I've done my own experiments in the past and could not light gasoline with a cigarette.
but...but... it happens in the movies all the time /sarcasm
I saw worse in Baja. I drove by a propane tanker truck that was now on its side by the side of the road. You could smell the propane leaking out. The driver had climbed to the top of the truck and was sitting up there puffing away on his cigarrette waiting for the tow truck. I did not obey the posted speed limit in getting out of there.
Would you rather crash into a tanker truck that has a big red sign that reads "FLAMMABLE" or "INFLAMMABLE?"
"I've done my own experiments in the past and could not light gasoline with a cigarette."
Ditto. I've dropped lit cigarettes into a cup of gasoloine and the just go "pssst" and go out.
I still don't smoke around gasoline, though. If something DID happen, oh boy.
I tried everything I could, with no ignition.
Of course the strict no smoking is about preventing the lighting up.
It's the lighting that causes the boom.
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