Newly released video shows the moment a burning car exploded on Interstate 215 in Moreno Valley, California, engulfing two California Highway Patrol officers in flames as they walked past it. The explosion happened on Sunday, October 25, at about 3:17 p.m. on the northbound lanes of I-215, just south of State Route 60, and the footage was released by authorities on Friday, October 30, as the investigation continues, NBC Palm Springs reported.
Source: NBC Palm Springs
The car was a 2007 Toyota Camry that had broken down in the traffic lanes. According to the CHP, the driver — who investigators say was allegedly under the influence — and a friend pushed the sedan onto the right shoulder, about the time two CHP units arrived at the scene, MyNewsLA reported, citing CHP Officer Javier Navarro.
The moment on video
The released video shows officers approaching the Camry to check whether anyone was still inside. As the two officers walked past the car, it suddenly exploded, engulfing both of them in flames, NBC Palm Springs reported. Authorities warned viewers that the footage may be disturbing.
Both officers suffered minor to moderate burn injuries. They were taken to Riverside University Medical Center for treatment, and the CHP said they are expected to make a full recovery with no long-term complications, according to Officer Navarro's account reported by MyNewsLA.
Source: MyNewsLA
"An explosion occurred, causing the officers to be engulfed in flames. Both officers sustained minor to moderate injuries." — CHP Officer Javier Navarro, as reported by MyNewsLA and Patch
The driver and his friend were not hurt. Investigators determined the driver was under the influence and arrested him; he was booked into the Robert Presley Jail on suspicion of driving under the influence, the CHP said. His friend was not arrested, and the driver's name was not immediately released.
Fire crews and the roadside scene
Riverside County Fire Department crews reached the scene within minutes and put out the blaze before it could spread to nearby vegetation, the CHP said. The Camry had first been reported as a vehicle fire while it was blocking traffic as it was pushed along the northbound lanes, NBC Palm Springs reported.
Why this stretch of I-215 matters
Interstate 215 is one of the Inland Empire's main north-south corridors through Riverside County, carrying heavy commuter and freight traffic between Riverside, Moreno Valley and the warehouse districts further north — a route Punjabi truckers in California drive regularly. Roadside stops on its shoulder are exposed and fast-moving, which is why a routine check on a disabled car can turn dangerous in seconds, as this video shows.
The cause of the fire and the explosion has not yet been released. The CHP investigation remains open, and in its public video post the CHP identified Officer E. Rising as the investigating officer and asked witnesses to contact the Riverside CHP office at (951) 324-7210.
What happens next
Investigators still have to establish why the Camry caught fire and then exploded. The driver faces the DUI allegation in the criminal process; an allegation is not a conviction, and no court outcome has been reported. For drivers and truckers, the CHP account is a blunt reminder from a real incident: a burning or smoking vehicle can erupt without warning, and keeping distance from it — rather than standing beside it on the shoulder — is the safer course while help is on the way.