A viral video showed the moment that a North Carolina driver caused a massive, movie-quality explosion in the coastal city of Wilmington. To make matters worse, the reckless hit-and-run driver was driving under the influence of drugs at the time. 

North Carolina police charged the man responsible for the massive Wilmington gas explosion with a felony DWI

Yesterday, a Wilmington, North Carolina, driver crashed into a Veterinary office building on New Centre Drive. The impact damaged a gas line, resulting in a massive explosion that tore through the building.

This was no mistake or instance of smartphone-induced tunnel vision, though. Police found the driver, 46-year-old Jason Lee Beach, to be driving while intoxicated (DWI) at the time of the wreck.

Beach fled the scene, but he didn’t make it far. When police caught up with Beach and searched his car, they found a can of Galaxy Gas, a popular nitrous oxide brand. Abusers use Galaxy Gas as an inhalant to get high.

Police charged Beach with a felony DWI, possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless driving, hit-and-run, failing to maintain a lane, and charges related to the injuries he caused. 

The blast injured at least four firefighters

Tragically, the blast and the subsequent emergency operations injured four firefighters. The first firefighter suffered severe burns on his hands, while the rest sustained less serious injuries. 

“We heard the mayday call come in, and those are the worst words a fire chief can hear,” Wilmington Fire Chief Steve Mason told WECT after the fact. Departments across the country use the “mayday” call over the radio to signal that firefighters are in distress and activate accountability systems.

According to North Carolina firefighters on the scene, a secondary explosion followed the first. That second blast occurred while firefighters were aiding in evacuation efforts. 

Check out a video of the wild explosion below!