A spectacular explosion rattled a Los Angeles parking lot late Thursday when an SUV blew up, leaving one man with injuries. The explosion occurred in a Van Nuys shopping center near the busy intersection of Van Nuys Boulevard and Sherman Way, reported KTLA.

Aerial footage from the area showed the demolished Toyota 4Runner in the Super King Markets parking lot, with debris scattered across the area. The explosion was so intense that car parts were flung many yards away from the explosion site, the vehicle a badly mangled mess visible to bystanders and first responders alike, according to the KABC coverage.

The driver, who was reportedly living out of his vehicle, apparently ignited the massive explosion by attempting to light a cigarette in the presence of propane tanks. "He suffered minor injuries," the Los Angeles Police Department as echoed by CBS Los Angeles, as he was whisked away to a local hospital. Investigators have determined the cause to be a propane explosion.

After the explosion, the parking lot turned into a makeshift crime scene. Small butane canisters, possibly linked to the blast, were identified by authorities among the ruins according to KABC. No other cars, or individuals, suffered the brunt of the unexpected detonation.

One resident, Ken Smith, recounted to CBS Los Angeles the moment the explosion struck, describing it as "like an earthquake rattling the windows." But the turmoil was ephemeral, "it was gone as soon as it started," Smith added. The LAPD has since closed the parking lot to conduct a thorough investigation.