Car Explosion Lands Driver In Jail

SANTA ROSA, CA — A car exploded Monday afternoon in a Santa Rosa parking lot, landing its driver in jail, police said.

Multiple witnesses called around 1 p.m. to report the explosion at Guerneville Road and Range Avenue.

There was a debris field of 100 feet in all directions and the driver, Michael Crawford of Santa Rosa, suffered not life-threatening burns to his face, hands and chest, Santa Rosa police Sgt. James Vickers said.

Officers found two ounces of methamphetamine in Crawford's car, and learned he recently purchased several packs of butane canisters to process hash oil, Vickers said.

Crawford mishandled the butane inside his car, causing the explosion, Vickers said.

The explosion happened within feet of several bystanders and caused extensive damage to nearby cars.

Once Crawford was medically cleared by hospital personnel, he was booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of felony vandalism and possession of methamphetamine for sale, police said.

Crawford was being held in lieu of $20,000 bail Monday evening, according to jail records.