KWCH - Kansas News and Weather - Man Killed in Car Explosion Identified

Man Killed in Car Explosion Identified

by Rebecca Gannon (WICHITA, Kan.)

A family releases the name of a man killed when his car exploded Thursday night. A loved one says 62-year-old Ronald Garrett died when flames destroyed his car, garage and home in the 3100 block of South Bennett.

Officials say at this point, they don't suspect suicide or foul play was involved.

Neighbors say Garrett was probably getting into his car to go to his bowling league around 5:15 Thursday when they heard the car start, the engine rev, and then they saw the car - and the garage - go up in flames.

Location of Fire

Lynn Cox says she was going outside to check on her children when she saw the smoke. "I told my daughter, I said, oh my gosh, I think that house is on fire." It's the reaction many people on the block had Thursday evening.

"When I ran up here, me and another neighbor in the neighborhood saw the car on fire," continues Cox. "You could start hearing the buckling of the car right before it explodes."

By the time fire crews arrived, the car was little more than ashes, the garage was charred, and the home attached to it was heavily damaged.

"When it exploded and I saw the fire," says Cox, "the flames shot up like 30 feet. And I heard the windows buckle and bust out."

"We know that neighbors heard him get into the car," says Fire Marshal Ed Bricknell, "close the door, and start the engine. And the car revved up. So what happened between the time the car was revving and the fire, we don't know."