The incident happened just before 11 p.m. Tuesday near Miguel Bustamante Parkway and South Riverside Avenue. According to the Colton Fire Department, technicians were working on hydrogen trucks in a storage area when one of them exploded, resulting in a large fire.
When fire crews arrived at the scene, they found a passenger car and hydrogen truck trailer fully engulfed in flames. They extinguished the fire in about 20 minutes.
The situation was made even more dangerous by what was inside the trailer and the second truck nearby. Both carried compressed hydrogen fuel tanks.
One technician suffered serious burns and was taken to the hospital. Another individual, who was accounted for some time after the explosion, was later found dead at the scene. The victim was only identified as an adult man.
A hazmat team was called to clear the scene.
Pilot, the company that owns the trailer involved in the incident, said in a statement it was saddened to learn of the death and injury
"Our thoughts and prayers are with these individuals and their loved ones. The safety and wellbeing of our team members, and the communities we serve, are our utmost concern," the statement reads. "We are grateful for the swift response of local authorities who quickly contained the fire. We have temporarily suspended compressed hydrogen gas operations and will continue to work closely with authorities as they conduct a thorough investigation. Please direct any additional questions to the proper authorities."
An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the explosion.