2 men burned in Wash. state methanol explosion

[July 20, 2010]  SEDRO-WOOLLEY, Wash. (AP) -- Two men who were apparently trying to take an unusual thrill ride were seriously injured in an explosion at a shop that builds and services race cars in Washington state.

Fire Chief Dean Klinger told the Skagit Valley Herald the men put about four gallons of methanol in a 55-gallon barrel in the parking lot Sunday night, sat on top and lit it for a "barrel ride."

Klinger says, "Apparently it was supposed to slide across the parking lot like a rocket. Instead, it blew up."

He says one end of the barrel flew 120 feet.

The men were responsive when paramedics arrived at Funk Racing. They were taken to a local hospital, then flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with severe burns.

___

Information from: Skagit Valley Herald, http://www.skagitvalleyherald.com/

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.