Sep 3, 2009 12:53 pm US/Eastern
Taxi Cab Explodes Near NYC's Times Square
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
-
-
A cab burst into flames Sept. 3, 2009, in New York City at the intersection of 53rd Street 7th Avenue. No one was apparently injured in the explosion.
Nicola A. Menzie/CBS
-
-
Twitter user @MrWhiteOfQB shared this photograph he took of a taxi cab fire on 53rd Street and Seventh Avenue on September 3, 2009.
CBS
-
-
A taxi cab exploded after catching fire on 53rd Street and Seventh Avenue in midtown Manhattan on September 3, 2009.
CBS
-
-
Pedestrians gathered to watch the spectacle after a cab exploded near Times Square on September 3, 2009.
CBS
-
-
No one was hurt after a taxi cab exploded on 53rd Street and Seventh Avenue on September 3, 2009.
CBS
-
-
Firefighters needed just a few minutes to put out a massive blaze after a taxi cab exploded in midtown Manhattan on September 3, 2009.
CBS
-
-
Workers inside an office on 53rd and Seventh snapped these photographs of a taxi cab fire on September 3, 2009.
CBS
A taxi cab parked in midtown Manhattan caught fire before exploding on Thursday morning, rattling the nerves of pedestrians and nearby office workers, but incredibly injuring no one.
The engulfed cab was sitting on the corner of 53rd Street and Seventh Avenue when witnesses said smoke began rising from the car's engine. After the driver exited the car, the engine caught on fire.
Seconds later, the fire apparently spread to the gas tank, causing a frightening explosion. Witnesses inside a nearby office building told CBS station WCBSTV.com they heard a loud "bang," sending workers out of their seats and over to windows to see what happened.
Police and firefighters responded to the scene almost immediately and put the fire out in just a few minutes.
There were no apparent injuries. A street vendor selling framed pictures on the corner apparently lost a good portion of his work.
Reports of the fire spread on Twitter just as fast as the flames did.
Twitter user
@kornestik wrote: "OMG! just passed by a taxi cab on fire in Time Square!"
User
@TimeForJohn wrote: "Taxi cab on 53rd and 7th is on fire and exploding."
User
@rar624 snapped a shot of the cab after the fire was put out and posted it on his Twitter profile: Taxi fire in midtown Manhattan 53rd / 7th New York City.
http://twitpic.com/gb3kb
User
@palafo took some shots of the cab after it burned out as well: "Pix of burned-out taxi from fire this morning at 53rd and 7th Ave, Manhattan.
http://bit.ly/24OOy"
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
I-Team: Tracking The Florida Stimulus Money Trail 
Stumble It!
