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Illegal Drug Production May Have Sparked SUV Explosion

Police in Tempe say it may have been illegal drug production that caused an explosion inside an SUV last night.

The blast, which took place outside a convenience store, blew out the rear window of the vehicle.

Store employees helped the driver out the fire the explosion triggered, but by the time first-responders arrived, the driver and the vehicle were gone.

The SUV was located in a nearby apartment complex parking lot, but the driver remains at large. Officers with the bomb squad checked the vehicle and say it did not contain explosives.

But a police lieutenant told reporters it appears a torch was used to extract hash oil from marijuana and the resulting fumes ignited inside the vehicle.

Dennis Lambert was a morning host at KJZZ.