San Diego

A motorist was burned Tuesday when two gasoline-filled containers in his car’s trunk apparently triggered an explosion as the auto pulled out of a Rancho Bernardo gas station Tuesday morning, police said.

Martin Crooks, 39, was listed in good condition Tuesday afternoon at the UC San Diego Medical Center with second-degree burns to his face and hands, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Police spokesman Bill Robinson said Crooks filled a 20-gallon propane tank and a 5-gallon gasoline tank and placed them in the trunk. He said the car exploded at 7:50 a.m. as it pulled out of the station.

Crooks jumped from the car as it traveled across Bernardo Drive, Robinson said. The car rolled across the street and stopped after crashing into a wooden fence.

Paramedics rushed Crooks to Pomerado Hospital, Robinson said. He was later transferred to the UCSD hospital’s burn center.