U-Haul Truck Erupts in Deadly Blast Outside Idaho Shopping Center

A quiet Saturday morning in Lewiston, Idaho, turned into chaos when a U-Haul truck exploded outside an Old Navy store, sending shockwaves through a popular shopping plaza and leaving one person dead.

Just after sunrise, at approximately 7:15 a.m., a powerful explosion ripped through the parking lot of a retail center in Lewiston — a small city near the Washington border. Witnesses say the blast “sounded like a bomb.”

“I was inside Starbucks when the windows rattled and everyone ducked,” said Brianna Martin, a Lewiston resident who works nearby. “When I ran outside, I saw smoke and a twisted U-Haul that looked like it had been ripped apart.”

Authorities confirmed that one person — believed to be connected to the truck — was killed instantly.

According to a joint statement from the Lewiston Police and Fire Departments, the explosion appears to have been accidental, though investigators are still working to determine the exact cause.

“Preliminary findings suggest the U-Haul was carrying stored materials including gasoline and propane tanks,” Lewiston Fire Marshal Julian Sorrell said Saturday. “At this time, there is no indication the incident is criminal in nature.”

Officials added that no secondary devices or hazardous chemicals were found at the scene.

The explosion damaged nearby businesses — including Old Navy and the Courtyard Marriott — and sent debris flying across the parking lot. Fortunately, no fires ignited after the blast.

Firefighters and police from multiple agencies, including Idaho State Police and Nez Perce County officials, rushed to the scene. Streets were quickly blocked off as crews swept the area for safety hazards.

Residents were urged to stay clear of the area while investigators combed through the wreckage. “There is no ongoing danger to the public,” Lewiston police reassured in an afternoon briefing.

Lewiston, a normally calm city known for its historic river port and tight-knit community, has rarely seen an incident of this magnitude. Locals compared the sound to a sonic boom or earthquake.

“I thought a plane crashed,” said delivery driver Thomas Reed. “The ground shook under my truck. You could feel it in your chest.”

Officials say the victim’s identity has not been released pending notification of next of kin.

The Idaho blast comes just two days after a separate explosion near Hayward, California, hospitalized six people. Investigators there say the cause was likely related to a gas leak — underscoring renewed national attention on propane and fuel safety heading into winter.

As one Lewiston fire official put it: “These materials are common, but when something goes wrong, it can go wrong fast.”

The investigation in Idaho remains ongoing.

Source: Lewiston Police Department, Lewiston Fire Department, Fox News Digital, Local Eyewitness Interviews