A food truck exploded at a Florida seafood festival, police say. How did it happen?

A Florida seafood festival in Indian River County was rocked by an explosion on Saturday morning, and a woman was left in critical condition.

According to Vero Beach police, a food truck exploded at just before 9 a.m. as the event was just about to start at Riverside Park.

“We invite you to join us for some of the freshest seafood in South Florida and to enjoy a diverse variety of delectable dishes and tasty libations,” reads the invite on the event’s website.

A police release on Facebook says that the truck — TC Palm identified it as Michelle’s Catch Of The Day — was participating in the gathering as a vendor.

Photos at the scene show the truck blown wide open. Part of a red lobster’s claw on the sign can be seen amid the twisted metal.

Vero Beach Seafood Festival invite
Vero Beach Seafood Festival invite

The concession’s co-owner, Michelle Dietterick, was inside the trailer at the time of the blast and severely injured. The 53-year-old Port St. Lucie woman suffered severe burns to her arms and legs and was flown to Orlando Regional Medical Center Burn Unit.

“Prior to the explosion, some witnesses advised that there was a smell of propane prior to her going inside the food truck,” Master Officer Darrell Rivers. told reporters on Sunday.

Scene after a food truck exploded at Vero Beach Seafood Festival
Scene after a food truck exploded at Vero Beach Seafood Festival

Her husband, Scott Dietterick, was outside, setting up for the day when the incident occurred, police say. Uninjured, he has since set up a GoFundMe page to cover her medical costs after the “terrible accident.”

“Michelle has severe burns to her face, hands, arms and legs; she has broken bones in her face and had a lung collapse,” says his donation page. “Michelle will have a long recovery.”

As of noon Monday, $670 out of the $25,000 requested had been reached.

The seafood festival continued after the accident and no other injuries were reported.