A 28-year-old worker was killed while welding barrels outside of a car repair shop.
Police in Westmont, IL, say William Zuponeck, a Midas Auto Services employee, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
According to the police report, sparks flew from a welding torch Zuponeck was using and ignited residual chemical vapors from the 55-gallon drum.
He was killed after being struck by objects that were thrown by the blast.
Police say the chemical may have been methanol which is used in window washer fluid to prevent it from freezing.