Doctor's Lexus hybrid explodes in Arkansas, "explosive device" found
by Sebastian Blanco on Feb 4th 2009 at 1:29PM 
This is one of those stories that, when you first read the headline, you think, "This will be all over the internet in a matter of minutes." The details are as follows: A Lexus hybrid belonging to the chairman of the Arkansas Medical Board, Dr. Trent Pierce, exploded this morning outside his home. CNN says he is currently in "extremely critical condition" at a local hospital. Early reports from local media said that, "it could have been a malfunction with the hybrid Lexus SUV" and police did not initially suspect any foul play. Another person was also injured. FOX has since learned that the ATF is investigating and that an "explosive device" was found in the car. The FBI is also involved.Toyota has told AutoblogGreen that, "At this time we have received no information on the details of the onsite investigation."
UPDATE: Toyota just sent out the following statement: "We are extremely concerned to hear about Dr. Pierce and are looking into the situation. There have been conflicting reports from officials on the scene and it is too early to speculate on the cause. We will cooperate completely with officials in any investigation. We are not aware of any such incident in which it was determined that Lexus hybrid vehicle components were the cause."
[Source: CNN, FOX]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
gorr 2:27PM (2/04/2009)
IT's full of terrorists in the energy domain of powering the mechanical devises actually on earth. C.I.A, fbi, irs, doa, epa, popular mechanics, autobloggreen, ford, gm, toyota, subaru, exxon, bush, barack, senators, general electric, great-britain, hitler, shell, bloggers, corn producers, wall streets, abc studios, nascar, formula one, nasa, patents offices, etc.
All these folks are denying genepax and newton, copernic, nostradamus, jesus, the bible, budda, the past u.f.o's, etc. It's not surprising seeing folks putting bombs somewhere when they heard abouth decreasing supply of oil from middle east suppodedly terrorists.
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AltairDusk 6:21AM (2/05/2009)
Are you on crack?
nom de plume 3:09PM (2/04/2009)
My first thought was anti-abortion terrorists. They have certainly attacked a lot of doctors.
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John Rowell 4:16PM (2/04/2009)
Thank God the good doctor wasn't in the car! Can't wait until they find out what caused the explosion 8-O
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Chris 5:57PM (2/04/2009)
Did you miss the part where he's in "Extremely critical condition" and that another person was also hurt?
Gordio 11:00PM (2/04/2009)
^ I second that. How can you miss that...of course he was in the car.
On CNN they said they might have to remove one eye. The other eye might be able to be fixed.
It's so tragic. This guy was loved. He wasn't even a contraversial doctor to begin with. I'm sure toyota is somewhat glad it's a bomb and not the hybrid battery. When this news first came out, they didn't know it was a bomb. They just had the headline "lexus hybrid exploded"
John Rowell 11:57PM (2/04/2009)
It said the car was outside his home, so the implication was he was in the home. Or at least that's how it came across to me. It didn't say he was in the car. But if that was the case then it's amazing he even came out alive. Hope they can save both his eyes. If they can only save one eye that's tragic, well, it could have been worse. Glad it wasn't the fault of the car - but who would plant a bomb to harm someone, especially one who spends his career healing people? Some psychos out there.
Chris 8:29AM (2/05/2009)
So it looks like he was just outside the car. Seems the bomber left a spare tire near the bomb (trigger device or plant to get the target in position?) and it exploded as he was moving the tire.
No mention of another person being hurt now but that was in earlier reports.
Best wishes to the Dr. on his recovery. I hope they find who did this and the punishment is fitting. Since this has ATFE involved so I hope there is some Federal PYITA prison time involved.
Chris M 11:22PM (2/04/2009)
The media really should have known better than to think a "hybrid malfunction" was the cause. The only thing even close to explosive in a hybrid car would be the gasoline, and igniting a gas leak would cause a fire rather than explosion.
Someone had a grudge against the doc and planted a bomb, and there are all sorts of possible reasons for the grudge. It could have even been the work of an irrational nut-job, like the Unibomber. Which reminds me:
Gorr, where were you on the morning of February 4th?
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gorr 3:26PM (2/13/2009)
I was reading your posts. Why are you spreading fear in the energy domain of powering the car forward with goverment related peoples?
Chris M 6:30PM (2/13/2009)
"powering the car forward with goverment related peoples?"
Hmm, I wonder... Are you suffering from really bad grammar, or are you proposing hitching up government employees to pull your car, or are you proposing to make biodiesel out of politicians?
Either way, you really need to learn how to write more clearly and rationally. Otherwise, someone might misunderstand and think you've gone off the deep end.
Rain 5:12AM (2/05/2009)
Wishing a speedy recovery for Dr.Pierce.
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Chris M 6:32PM (2/13/2009)
I will second that.
I also wish for a quick arrest, speedy trial, and long prison sentence for the villain behind the bombing.