‘Absolutely in shock’: Family narrowly escapes explosion from ‘bomb’ in road

BURIEN, Wash. (KING) - A Washington state radio DJ and his family are traumatized after they narrowly escaped a fiery explosion while driving down the road in an incident that was caught on video.

John Richards, a radio DJ for KEXP’s morning show, and his 11-year-old son had just picked up his wife from the airport Friday and were driving home around 5:30 p.m. when an object that looked like a ball fell onto the road in Burien.

“The soccer parent in me is [like] that’s a soccer ball, so I actually slow down a little because a kid is possibly gonna run behind this ball. Then, within a second, I turn to my wife and say, ‘That’s a bomb,’” Richards said.

Richards and his family were just feet away from the object when it detonated. Surveillance video of the incident shows the explosion behind their car.

“Thank god I wasn’t here a second too soon," Richards said. “Maybe it’s not funny, but it’s watching Bugs Bunny. You see those little bombs they light, and they’re throwing them in the cartoon. I think that trained me more than any other thing.”

No one in the family was injured, but the incident still took a toll, leaving Richards’ son traumatized. The father said his car was also slightly damaged.

“All three of us were – it’s like a movie when you’re a little muffled, and we came out absolutely in shock,” Richards said. “Headache and we had ear ringing for a couple days that just went away.”

Following the incident, he’s left with a lot of questions – but mainly, who did this and why?

“I’m afraid this is gonna happen again. Why wouldn’t it happen again?” he said.

Based on the video, a retired explosive enforcement officer for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said the white smoke indicates the device was probably made of flash powder and was likely homemade.

The investigation is ongoing. Police have not announced any arrests in the case.

However, the following day, two men were arrested on Interstate 90 after police say one of them attempted to light a bomb while fleeing from officers. It’s unclear if the incidents are connected.