--- title: "Chevrolet Blows Up After Man Uses Body Spray and Lights a Cigarette" description: "In the latest proof that cars and combustible gases just don't mix, police in Maryland say a car exploded last week after the driver used an aerosol body spray and then immediately lit a cigarette in the confined space, according to the Baltimore Sun." date: "2018-03-08" modified: "2018-03-08" authors: - name: "Kyle Cheromcha" job_title: "Editor-in-Chief" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/19097/chevrolet-blows-up-after-man-uses-body-spray-and-lights-a-cigarette" categories: - "Chevrolet News" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "Chevrolet" - "explosion" - "Maryland" - "Smoking" --- # Chevrolet Blows Up After Man Uses Body Spray and Lights a Cigarette ![]() *\www.thedrive.com\* In the latest proof that cars and combustible gases just don't mix, police in Maryland say a Chevrolet [exploded]() last week after the driver used an aerosol body spray and then immediately lit a cigarette in the confined space, [according to the *Baltimore Sun*.]() The unnamed victim was reportedly sitting in the front seat of a parked Chevy HHR with the windows down and the air conditioning running while he doused himself in aerosol deodorant. Despite the ventilation, he apparently used enough to fill the catering van with [flammable gas,]() which promptly blew up as soon as he flicked his lighter. https://twitter.com/\_/status/969285792194539520 Or, as Baltimore County Police spokeswoman Jennifer Peach [put it clinically]() to the *Sun*: "I would say it would be best to describe as a sudden and violent expansion of the air molecules in that vehicle." In any case, the little Chevy was completely destroyed, with its roof, doors, rear windows, and tailgate all pushed out by the force of the blast. The damage is almost identical to the [Kia Sorento that exploded last summer]() when a couple in Florida shoved a propane grill in the cargo area and forgot to turn off the gas valve, leading to *another* cigarette-sparked disaster. Though the driver in this case was first reported to have serious burn injuries, police later clarified that he was instead taken to the hospital to check for hearing damage—thankfully, the flames didn't last long enough to cause any physical harm. His ego? That's another story. ## Author Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()