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Car full of lighters explodes

Driver suffers moderate injuries in Petah Tikva blast

A car after a cigarette-lighter explosion destroyed the backseat, in Petah Tikva, on October 6, 2014. (photo credit: courtesy Magen David Adom)

Everyone knows smoking is bad for you, but the phrase took on a whole new meaning Monday when a car in Petah Tikva exploded after the driver lit a cigarette.

A preliminary police investigation found that the car’s backseat was occupied by a box containing hundreds of cigarette lighters, some of which may have been leaking lighter fluid, and a spark from the cigarette caused the lighters to explode.

The blast, which destroyed the backseat of the compact car and blew out the back windshield, was reportedly heard over a great distance.

The driver, 42, suffered moderate injuries consisting mostly of burns to his upper body and was hospitalized in stable condition.

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