Sudden Explosion Rocks Laurel Olive Garden, Injures 1

LAUREL, MD — A sudden explosion rocked the Laurel Olive Garden Wednesday afternoon, injuring one person and sending building materials flying across the parking lot and street.

Prince George's County Fire/EMS officials received several 911 calls reporting an explosion and possible building fire at about 1 p.m. at the Olive Garden at 14650 Baltimore Ave.

There was no fire, and the large explosion seemed to stem from a problem with electrical equipment in the utility room in the rear of the building, Chief Spokesperson Mark Brady said. Natural gas does not seem to be involved in this situation.

The restaurant was open at the time of the explosion, with 15 employees working and about 70 patrons inside. One person was transported to a local hospital for a "very minor" arm injury, according to Brady.

Building materials flew across the parking lot and even across the street. The door of Olive Garden wrapped around a tree in the parking lot, which "will testify to the force of this explosion," Brady said.

"The brunt of this explosion came outwards into the parking lot," Brady said.

A Twitter user who was across the street at the time of the explosion said the "whole building shook."

Photos: Pete Piringer/Chief Spokesperson for Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service