A run-of-the-mill appearance three-car wreck in Herriman, Utah, at the close of Saturday evening turned into a high-drama and fiery disaster when an SUV veered off the road, slamming into a local Domino's Pizza, rupturing a gas line, and igniting a massive explosion and fire. What began as a car accident soon escalated into a near-meltdown with heroic onlookers, rapid action by firefighters, and not a soul lost, reminding all of us how quickly city perils could escalate.
Crash, Explosion, and Evacuations At approximately 10:15 p.m. local time on July 5, the three-vehicle collision at 13400 S and 5200 W caused one SUV to crash into a strip center housing a Domino's, Jimmy John's, and Supercuts. The blast damaged a gas main inside Domino's. Within minutes, the structure erupted in flames. An immense gas‑powered blast tore off the roof of the building and poured debris onto the parking lot, leading to evacuations within a one‑mile radius. Unified Fire Authority said no one was inside the building when the explosion occurred; all of the businesses had been evacuated beforehand.
Emergency Response and Investigation More than 60 firefighters from multiple departments- Herriman, South Jordan, West Valley, Sandy, and Draper fought the blaze throughout the next morning. Evacuations were coordinated by the Herriman Police Department, who shut down roads in proximal areas on behalf of the gas leak. The leak was sealed, and evacuation orders were discontinued at 1 a.m. Sunday. The Riverton Police are investigating the collision and gas-line rupture. The authorities are examining evidence from security cameras and witness statements to determine the reason for the collision.
Historical and Safety Context Gasoline explosions in strip malls are rare but fatal. The worst such tragedy in Utah was in 1956, when a natural gas leak exploded the Lariat Café, killing 16 and injuring 30 in Monticello. This explosion, by comparison, caused no fatalities through rapid evacuation and response. Nevertheless, local officials and building managers are starting evaluations of underground utility zoning, safety signage, barrier placement, and crash-barrier requirements in business districts to prevent similar catastrophes.