MTA Vehicle Fire and Explosion Near Charging Bull in Lower Manhattan

A vehicle belonging to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority caught fire and exploded Tuesday evening near the iconic Charging Bull statue in Lower Manhattan, sending a plume of thick black smoke into the air and startling bystanders. No injuries were reported.

The incident occurred during the evening rush hour near the intersection of Broadway and Stone Street, a block from the statue and outside the MTA's headquarters at 2 Broadway. Police and firefighters responded to reports of a car fire at approximately 5:42 p.m. Video from the scene showed the vehicle, an Infiniti SUV, parked on the side of the road before being rapidly consumed by flames. The fire escalated into a significant explosion, captured on video by onlookers, who subsequently moved away from the area.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze, with the New York Fire Department stating the flames were fully controlled shortly before 7 p.m. The MTA confirmed the vehicle was one of its own but referred further inquiries to the FDNY. Authorities have not reported any suspicious circumstances connected to the explosion, though the incident remains under investigation to determine its cause. Preliminary assessments from...