Cargo may have caused bus explosion outside Petaluma: CHP

A CHP officer investigating a bus explosion and fire that took the life of a Sonoma man on Sunday morning suspects the problem started in his cargo of recyclable materials, which included scrap metals, propane tanks and, possibly, fuel.

It remains uncertain what ignited the blast that led to the death of Todd Kneeland, 46, but officers speculate the propane tanks may have played a role, Officer Vince Pompliano said.

“I don’t know if that was a contributing factor at this point or not,” Pompliano said, noting that destruction of evidence by the fire may interfere with determining a cause.

Kneeland, an avid recycler, was driving a repurposed Ford 350 coach on Highway 116/Stage Gulch Road near Adobe Road outside of Petaluma on Sunday when something inside the vehicle exploded, blowing out the wide rear door and several whole window panels before the bus burst into flames, Pompliano said.

Skid marks suggest Kneeland traveled about 400 feet before hitting a tree and stopping, Pompliano said.

The collision itself was minor but Kneeland apparently could not get out of the vehicle, and flames prevented passing motorists from getting into help him, the officer said.

Kneeland was found dead in the passenger seat, badly burned, the CHP said.

Pompliano said the bus at one time had passenger seats that had been taken out, leaving the entire area behind the cab clear so Kneeland could haul materials.

Only metal items and scrap survived the fire, he said, but speculation is the propane tanks or fuel in the jumble of materials were responsible for the tragedy.

“I don’t know if the propane tanks were full,” he said, “because a lot of them didn’t even have the valve on them.”