Jan. 28--A car exploded in the parking lot of a Stoneham BJ's Wholesale Club outlet this afternoon -- miraculously sparing the driver who was about to open it and inflicting no injuries -- when dangerous vapors from welding equipment built up inside the vehicle.
The driver unwittingly detonated the terrifying vapor bomb by using the car's remote locking device just before 3:30 p.m., investigators told the Herald.
The 2012 Honda Civic blew up, damaging several other vehicles parked nearby as debris flew through the air.
"Police and fire discovered ... parts of the Honda propelled throughout the parking lot," stated a Stoneham police statement detailing the destructive force of the blast.
Investigators said the actylene vapor apparently escaped from plumbing equipment left in the car by the driver's boyfriend.
Authorities interviewed witnesses, examined evidence and determined the explosion was not caused by a criminal act.
Stoneham police and fire, the State Police Bomb Squad and the Fire Investigation Unit in the Office of the State Fire Marshal all responded to the scene.
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