Posted on 02/09/2011 2:54:05 AM PST by crosslink
Edited on 02/09/2011 6:51:12 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
Several sources familiar with the ongoing investigation tell WTOP fire and police investigators believe the radiator in Turton's 2008 BMW X5 was punctured when it rolled into a workbench. The halogen headlights, which emit a bluish light and illuminate the road better than conventional headlights, stayed on after the radiator was punctured.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Upon further thought, if the radiator truly has a punched hole, there are possibilities. If, as you proposed, she remotely started the vehicle & let it warm up before she got in, the cooling system would be somewhat pressurized. It is also possible that she started to back out and decided she was too close to hubby's car and pulled up for another run, impaling the radiator and and also breaking the lens of the headlight. That would allow the antifreeze mist to contact the hot bulb and ignite.
Not sure if the blast did her in, but that seems to be the case if the observation of her being found upright in the driver's seat is true. If she were conscious, there would be evidence of trying to escape.
I’m with you. I hate them.
Yep. Just tried it. Both Peak and Prestone (e-glychol), undiluted.
Nothing.
I even poured some denatured alcohol in the middle and lit it.
A little of the glycol burnt off, but even that was not enough for a sustaining fire.
Do you know if the newer p-glycol more flammable? I don't have any of that to play with.
Did you try it with anti-freeze heated to the boiling point of water (212F), and spray it on the fire (mimicking the action of a punctured radiator)? Here's an account of an anti-freeze fire encountered by some firefighters:
Recently we experienced an engine fire in a large haul truck. Other than the overall size of the truck, the basic configuration of the motor, turbocharger, coolant system, etc., is quite similar to other heavy duty trucks.The fire, and resultant damage, was minor due to quick action by nearby maintenance personnel responding with a dry chem. fire extinguisher. The driver stated he could smell anti-freeze in the cab of the truck, however assumed it was a minor leak and continued to drive the truck to find a good place to pull over to inspect the problem without blocking other traffic. Other personnel that saw the truck go by noticed a coolant leak in the engine compartment (off side mounted engine) and gave notice to the driver via radio. The driver stopped and as he walked around the truck to inspect the problem he saw a fire in the engine compartment. The flames were reported to be a distinctive blue color. The driver stated at no time was there any yellow color to the flames. The fire progressed in size quickly until extinguished w/ a hand held 10 lb. dry chem. FE. The on-board self-contained fire suppression system was not discharged.
An investigation revealed a flex coupling ruptured. This coupling joined two hard lines carrying coolant. Coolant under pressure was sprayed all over the engine compartment including in the vicinity of the turbocharger. The hard lines w/ coupler was located directly on top of the valve cover of the motor. The source of the ignition of the fire could not be determined until information regarding ethylene glycol was researched. Ethylene glycol has an auto-ignition temperature of 748 deg. F., and will flash burn at lower temperatures if atomized in the vicinity of temp.’s at or greater than 250 deg. F. Turbochargers typically demonstrate temperatures well in excess of these numbers. A coolant mix of water and ethylene glycol based anti-freeze in the presence of these high temperatures will decompose the water out of solution and the remaining ethylene glycol may undergo auto-ignition. The resulting fire may be similar to an alcohol fire, resulting in a blue flame.
I agree it’s a possibility.
But wouldn’t this be a fairly common outcome in wrecks where the headlights and radiator are involved?
I really don’t think it is. I asked my buddy who’s an EMT in the city and sees wrecks all the time and he says he’s heard of it.
I agree it’s a possibility.
But wouldn’t this be a fairly common outcome in wrecks where the headlights and radiator are involved?
I really don’t think it is. I asked my buddy who’s an EMT in the city and sees wrecks all the time and he says he’s not heard of it.
In the case of the garage accident, I suspect an aggravating factor was the confined nature of the space - even if the garage door were open (not sure if it was), the roof and three walls of the garage would have served to concentrate any flammable spray/fumes.
For historical interest: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2672393/posts
Explains some things. Brings up different questions.
Good luck with your quest.
It has been noted that the threads on FR are being tracked by a Crisis Management firm reporting to the White House.
They are hoping that the Expertise on Free Republic will solve this case, just as FR expertise debunked Dan Rather’s story on George Bush’ national Guard service (thank you Buckhead), and identified the cause of the Columbia Shuttle Tragedy, even as it happened.
It has been noted that the threads on FR are being tracked by a Crisis Management firm reporting to the White House.
I have news for the White House , I just may have someone I know watching them everyday from very close , hee hee hee.
I still am debating if I will head to DC. Let’s see if the people involved step up and report the truth because we know what is being released is pure bulls-it
Yes, I just got to Friday's thread today ~ she was a seriously impaired drunk at 4:45 am, but was able to dress, walk down flights of stairs and attempt to go to work.
uh huh.
The Medical Examiner ruled that this wasn't a suicide or murder and that there was toxic levels of alcohol involved.
So, once you evaporate antifreeze does the ethylene glycol further separate into its alcohol component?
This case still bothers me ~ thinking of the risk taken by all those rich people who park their more expensive SUVs inside their garages. (/s)
Ethylene glycol won’t break down to alcohol. No, I have not done any fire experiments yet this year.
I think sometimes the police like to close a weird case, and will accept or gin up a weird reason for all the loose ends.
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