Detroit Food Truck Owner Severely Burned in Propane Tank Explosion

The owner of a Detroit food truck is recovering at the hospital after a propane tank explosion. Detroit’s Original Seafood truck proprietor Rashad Torrence was with his kids at the mobile restaurant, preparing for a west riverfront cigar festival on Saturday when the accident occurred, Fox 2 reports.

Torrence went to light the truck’s fryers when the propane tank ignited. Torrence’s kids were able to escape, but the force of the explosion knocked Torrence out of the truck and onto the ground. The owner was able to put out the flames using a fire extinguisher before being taken to the hospital. Torrence is receiving treatment for second-degree burns to his hands, face, and the side of his body. The truck is also out of commission.

While relatively rare, propane tank-related explosions do occasionally occur on food trucks. In one tragic incident, a mother and daughter in Philadelphia died from burn injuries after a damaged propane tank exploded on their truck in 2014. The victims’ family received a $160 million settlement from the company that they alleged filled the food truck’s propane tank.

For now, Torrence’s family is focused on recovery and getting the Detroit’s Original Seafood back on the street. They’ve launched a GoFundMe on Tuesday to help rebuild the truck while Torrence recuperates. As of publication, the campaign had raised nearly $1,300 toward its $8,000 goal with contributions from fans and people in the local food truck community.

• Father of Six, Owner of Detroit’s Original Seafood Truck in Burn Unit After Propane Explosion [Fox 2]
• Detroit’s Original Seafood Truck Build [GoFundMe]