--- title: "Semi Hits Pickup Carrying $100,000 in Fireworks, Hour-Long Show Ensues" description: "A pickup carrying fireworks was struck on a highway in Canada, and fortunately the driver only needed treatment for minor injuries." date: "2023-10-31" modified: "2023-10-31" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/semi-hits-pickup-carrying-100000-in-fireworks-hour-long-show-ensues" categories: - "News" --- # Semi Hits Pickup Carrying $100,000 in Fireworks, Hour-Long Show Ensues ![]() *CTV News* Traffic was held to a standstill for an hour on the Trans-Canada Highway east of Vancouver last week, but at least passengers weren't bored. The backup was caused when a semi struck the back of a pickup truck, which was carrying a massive load of [fireworks](). The crash ignited the fireworks, creating an hour-long show for everyone stuck in traffic. Both passengers in the semi and pickup were able to get out mostly unharmed, though the pickup driver was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries. However, the pickup itself didn't survive, as it was burnt to a crisp, due to it being turned into a four-wheeled mortar tube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RDwwvlMZVA "Obviously, the fireworks were quite the display to passerby motorists," said Cpl. Carmen Kiener of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, per *[CBC]()*. You might imagine that a massive fireworks display would ease the pain of being stuck in gridlock for an entire hour. And while it probably wasn't the worst way to spend all that time trapped in a car, this fireworks show was a bit more violent than your average town fair's, since they were all ignited at once. "It was loud, aggressive, kind of coming out of nowhere, so it was all around us," said motorist Monica De Roo, according to [*CTV*](). "It was definitely scary." https://twitter.com/9NewsAUS/status/1718428811552034992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1718428811552034992%7Ctwgr%5E19cd10e74ea43880743e48e34a09f4c067c21d1c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.drive.com.au%2Fnews%2Fvideo-car-crash-causes-hour-long-fireworks-show%2F *CTV* reported that the truck with the explosive cargo was pulled off to the side of the road when the semi collided with it, pushing the pickup into a ditch. If the semi was the vehicle at fault, does the trucking company's insurance have to pay for the cost of the fireworks, which *[9News Australia]()* reported to be $100,000? An impromptu pyrotechnics show on a night drive doesn't sound too bad, but it's a bit different when the spectacle happens at ground level, there are motor vehicles on fire, and you're a captive audience to the display. One onlooker described it to *CBC* as a "raging inferno," but also, the "best fireworks show I'll ever see." Yeah, that about sums it up. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()