ORONO, Minn. - One man is hospitalized and another is recovering from more minor injuries after a tire exploded in Orono Friday.
First responders were called to the Amstar gas station at 3360 Shoreline Drive on reports that an employee had been injured. When Orono police officers arrived they found that the employee had been attempting to fill a tire on a one-ton truck with a camper when it blew.
The Amstar employee suffered trauma to his head and left arm. Emergency responders attempted to call in a helicopter but conditions weren't favorable, so the victim was transported to North Memorial Medical Center via ambulance.
Police say the truck is fitted with duals, meaning there are two tires on each side of the rear axle. The employee was attempting to fill an inside tire. Investigators believe if he would have been filling the outside tire injuries would have been far more serious.
The owner of the truck suffered minor injuries; he was treated on the scene and released.
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