Exploding taxicab accidental

Friday, Sept. 19, 1997 | 10:27 a.m.

The cause of a Sept. 9 explosion of a taxicab was a faulty fuel regulator that led to a leak in the propane tank, an investigation by the Las Vegas Fire Department has concluded.

Fire department spokesman Tim Szymanski said the explosion of the Yellow Checker-Star cab was accidental.

The 6:45 p.m. explosion destroyed the cab and also caused fire damage to two cars parked on either side of the cab. The fire caused an estimated $26,000 in damage, Szymanski said.

The driver had parked his car in the Palace Station hotel-casino's lot, at 2411 W. Sahara Ave., and walked into the casino to eat dinner about 15 minutes earlier. He returned to find the cab on fire.

The state Taxicab Authority also investigated. Inspections on the cab company's entire fleet of propane-powered cars were undertaken.

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