A Chanute man escaped injury when his pickup exploded while he was working at an oil pump jack site in rural Allen County Wednesday.
Sheriff’s deputies said Brandon Morris was working on the pump jack, and was outside his vehicle, when a mechanical failure on the truck caused the explosion.
A female acquaintance approaching the scene at 2875 Hawaii Rd. called 911 in panic, thinking Morris was still inside his truck when it exploded.
After a few tense seconds, she realized Morris was out of the vehicle and uninjured.
Fire crews were able to extinguish the blaze before it could reach the pump jack.
The truck was considered a total loss.
