I just saw this in the news -- quite morbid, and unfortunate, to say the least.

Pending investigation; no one can say for sure if the explosion was as a result of mechanical failure, or if there was tampering involved..

just as an FYI to be on the watch for any TSBs / recalls that may be associated, depending on the outcome.

http://www.wmctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9786392

WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS (WMC) - A car belonging to a West Memphis doctor exploded this morning when he got into the car according to West Memphis Police.

This happened at 8 a.m. at Doctor Trent Pierce's home on North Avalon and West Cooper in West Memphis.

Pierce has been airlifted to the Med in Memphis in extremely critical condition according to West Memphis Police Chief Bob Paudert.

Police are not sure what happened.

ATF, FBI and other investigators are on the scene trying to figure out what happened.

The car was a Lexus hybrid.

Dr. Pierce is a family doctor who specializes in asthma.

He is also the Chairman of the Arkansas State Medical Board.

 

Just saw this on Fox News. Possible it was the recalled fuel line?

http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/myfox/pa...Y&pageId=3.2.1

 

Yeah I just saw this on CNN.com
Too early to really make any assumptions though?

 

Doctor's car explodes in West Memphis

 

oh wow, i really hope it didnt have to do with the hybrid.

edit: oh it was the RX hybrid, and explodes is a bit much to describe it, the car still looks entact

 

+1. This would be very bad for Lexus if it turns out to be a spontainious issue with the Dr.s car.

 

If Lexus' fault this will be super ugly

 

As RXSF said tho...hardly looks like an explosion

 

i bet lexus hybrid owners are thinking twice before starting their cars this morning, haha

 

In before the "Lexus hybrids are the devils chariot and are the reason the economy sucks"

Way to early to tell what happened but I am sure we will stay updated. I am sure Lexus engineers are just as curious.

When turning on a Lexus hybrid, only the batteries turn on intially, the gas engine does not turn on.
Popcorn get your fresh popcorn!

 

Let's take stabs what what caused this.

I say something gnawed on wires

 

It depends... Starting cold, the engine does come on.

 

this is not the case with the 400h since that model still doesnt have the smart access push button start. plus, if it was cold, the engine would have to start up before the batteries kicked in

 

So what explode? The engine by the look of the picture not the whole car. Was the doctor kill ? hurt ?

 

watching msnbc now, investigators believe that, based on the damage, there might be an explosive device involved