St. Paul Food Truck Owner Sues for Damages After Propane Explosion

A St. Paul food truck owner is recovering from severe injuries sustained in a propane explosion during a test run on the city's East Side.

Shareef Shaheed, who planned to serve southern comfort food under the name Soul4Life, was operating a used truck when the accident occurred. He had turned on the propane tank and was preparing to light the pilot light for the deep fryer. The resulting blast threw him from the vehicle.

Shaheed reported suffering second and third-degree burns to his face, hands, and legs. He underwent surgery to repair the damage and remains hospitalized at Regions Hospital. The St. Paul Fire Department confirmed that three people were hospitalized with severe burns and stated that the cause of the blast is under investigation.

Shaheed said he and his fiancé, Megan Welle, along with a friend, were conducting the test run when the failure happened. He credited his background as a cook at the Dorothy Day Center with helping him react quickly. "Being around a kitchen, I knew to stop, drop and roll. So at that time, that was on my mind. I was rolling to make sure that the fire is put out," Shaheed said from his hospital bed.

The owner worked two jobs for ten years to save enough money to purchase the truck and start the business. The incident has paused his plans while he and Welle recover. Shaheed said the recovery process will take weeks and will be difficult. "It's hurting, it's killing me, but they definitely take care of me," he said.

Shaheed's family launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover medical bills and living expenses while the couple is out of work. Shaheed expressed gratitude for surviving the incident. "I'm definitely lucky to be alive. I feel like God got a plan for me. He ain't finished with me yet. He burned me up, but he ain't burned me down," Shaheed said.

The fire department continues its investigation into the mechanical failure that triggered the explosion. All three injured parties are expected to remain at Regions Hospital for an extended period.