The driver of a Ford Explorer SUV was killed when he somehow traveled over 350 feet off pavement on a straight course from the northeast parking lot at Vapor Bus International, along the north wall, into a cage surrounding a large liquid nitrogen tank and a large oxygen tank.
Police, firefighters, and paramedics from Buffalo Grove responded about 4:48 p.m. to Vapor Bus International, 1010 Johnson Drive in Buffalo Grove. Initially police received a report that an unoccupied Ford Explorer was crashed int ‘propane’ tank cage near a loading dock at Vapor Bus International. Buffalo Grove police officers arrived and found the vehicle, but it was occupied by a 42-year-old man, who was unresponsive “with no signs of life” inside the SUV. When paramedics arrived, they confirmed that the male occupant inside the vehicle was deceased. The vehicle struck a fence, which collapsed a structure that was adjacent to an upright white Praxair refrigerated liquid nitrogen tank. Adjacent to the refrigerated liquid nitrogen tank was a chrome compressed oxygen gas tank.
Firefighters determined that the tanks did not leak, and secured any potential hazards. Firefighters returned to the scene about 8:04 p.m. Sunday to remove the motorist’s body from the SUV following the extended crash investigation at a potentially hazardous scene. Although there was a hazmat assessment necessary, there was no elevated hazmat response to the scene.
Danger signs affixed to the fence surrounding the tanks included NITROGEN, OXYGEN, NO SMOKING, DO NOT ENTER – AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY.
The deceased was positively identified as 42-year-old Fernando Montesinos-Rojas of Wheeling. On Monday, October 23, 2023, an autopsy was conducted at the Lake County Coroner’s Office. Preliminary autopsy results indicate that Mr. Montesinos-Rojas suffered blunt force injuries, however final autopsy results are pending toxicology testing, including carbon monoxide testing.
Liquid nitrogen is a very cold, colorless, odorless liquid which can cause asphyxiation, dizziness, unconsciousness, or death. Contact of the liquid with skin or eyes causes frostbite burns. Contact with water, especially hot water can cause an explosion, but nitrogen gas is not flammable. Fortunately, the liquid nitrogen did not leak.
Oxygen is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that supports life. Oxygen is noncombustible on its own, but will actively support the burning of combustible materials. Materials that burn in air will burn more vigorously in oxygen. Some materials that will not burn in air will burn in oxygen. Although pure oxygen is nonflammable, under prolonged exposure to fire or intense heat, containers containing oxygen may rupture violently and rocket. Fortunately, the oxygen did not leak.
Initially, there was no mention by the Lake County Coroner that there were any indications that Montesinos-Rojas intentionally drove into the hazardous structures. There is a parking lot at the northeast corner of the building that would allow access to the hazardous tanks along the north or northwest wall of the building. According to Google Maps Street View images, there are no bollards at the edge of the parking lot to prevent travel along the north side of the building — whether a motorist was intoxicated or involved in involuntary travel due to a medical issue, or whether a motorist intentionally attempted to travel from the parking lot to the hazardous structures. The allowable distance for acceleration over the paved surface of part of the parking lot and a grass lawn on the north side of the building in a straight course is about 370 feet.
Considering (only as an example) the distance that an SUV could travel if it can go 0-60 MPH in 7.7 seconds, given Acceleration = (Final Speed – Initial Speed)/Time … AND … Distance = 1/2 X Acceleration x Time^2 …
A 2018 Ford Explorer that can do 0-60 MPH in 7.7 seconds, would travel about 342 feet when the vehicle’s speed accelerates to 60 MPH. Traveling over grass would, of course, take a little longer time to reach 60 MPH, and would lengthen the distance traveled to reach 60 MPH. Nevertheless, a vehicle could gain considerable speed in the distance (370 feet) along the north wall of the Vapor Bus International building — from the northeast parking lot to the hazardous gas containers at the northwest corner of the building.
There are bollards on the west side of the tanks.
The Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) was called to the scene to assist in the crash investigation.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office was notified and responded to the scene.
The crash is under investigation by the Buffalo Grove Police Department and MCAT.
^^ MOBILE? USE VOICE MIC ^^
facebook …
Please ‘LIKE’ the ‘Arlington Cardinal Page. See all of The Cardinal Facebook fan pages at Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook …
Help fund The Cardinal Arlingtoncardinal.com/sponsor
20240105-1435future
THANKS FOR READING CARDINAL NEWS
