SUV blows up gas pump, taxi destroyed
Published June 2, 2004, 9:07 AM CDT
Police are searching for the alleged hit-and-run driver of a sport-utility vehicle that crashed into a gasoline pump on Chicago's North Side early this morning, triggering an explosion that destroyed a taxi cab, WGN-Ch. 9 reported.
The incident happened about 2:30 a.m. at the Shell station at Ashland and Lawrence Avenues, police said. A cab driver had started pumping gas and had just gotten back into his vehicle when he heard a loud crash, WGN reported.
The next thing the cabbie knew, his vehicle was ablaze. He jumped out a passenger-side window to escape the flames.
Police said a Chevrolet Blazer traveling at high speed slammed into the pump, triggering the explosion before the SUV sped off. Firefighters were called to put out the blaze. No injuries were reported in the incident.