Cranberry police and firefighters were still processing the scene of a car explosion in the parking lot of a Red Robin Restaurant on Friday night that left one person dead, according to township police.
A Butler County 911 dispatcher reported multiple agencies responded after the dispatch center received multiple calls about the fire that occurred at 5:07 p.m.
“Just after 5 p.m., police and fire units were dispatched to the parking lot of the Red Robin Restaurant, just off Route 228, for a report of a car fire and/or explosion,” said police Lt. Chuck Mascellino.
“Upon our arrival one person, deceased, was found inside the vehicle. We have a tentative identification which we’re not releasing at this time,” Mascellino said.
Mascellino said the state police fire marshal is assisting township police with the investigation to determine the origin of the explosion.
He said the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office is assisting the Butler County Coroner’s Office with making a positive identification and determining the cause and manner of death. He said an autopsy will take place sometime this weekend.
“It’s still a very active investigation,” Mascellino said at about 10 p.m.
No other injuries were reported.
Amy Hudak, a reporter with Trib News partner WPXI reported news crews arriving at the scene could see car parts and glass strewn around the car in the parking lot of the Red Robin.
This is an unbelievable sight. The charred car is full of wires. Car parts and glass were thrown several dozen feet from the vehicle @WPXI pic.twitter.com/IKA67Z6DtF
— Amy Hudak (@amy_hudak) May 22, 2021
A viewer video sent to the station showed flames engulfing the vehicle after the initial explosion.
No further details were available late Friday.
