An explosion on the back of a truck that killed the driver sounded like a "bomb" as it brought down power lines and scattered debris across a Melbourne intersection.
The truck was carrying rubbish including LPG cylinders, which police believe triggered the explosion that blew out windows across a quarter of the Footscray block and triggered a multi-vehicle accident.
Russell Bannicer was in his bedroom when he heard what sounded like "a bomb" exploding only metres from his home at lunchtime on Tuesday.
"Because I live near a warehouse, I at first thought they dropped something very large, but I realised it was definitely too loud for that," he told AAP at the scene.
"I then looked out the window and could see the truck in my fence."
He said the impact also shattered some of his windows.
When he ran outside to check inside the truck, Mr Bannicer said the man "was not in good shape".
"There was blood on his face ... He did not look well," he said.
Nicholas, who was in the car wash across the street when the crash happened, said his whole car was shaking.
He drove 50 metres down the road, parked his car and bolted back to help.
"I saw no one except a lady lying on the road," he told AAP.
"I poured cold water on her, but she wouldn't look at me, wouldn't talk."
Metropolitan Fire Brigade commander Marcus Baker said crews arrived to a scene of great chaos after being called out to downed power lines, fire alarms and a truck accident.
"There were a large number of buildings with windows blown out, several cars significantly damaged and a truck that had sustained major damage."
Acting Inspector Nigel L'Estrange said the explosion happened before the truck struck a fence on the suburban street.
"It's been quite an explosion and just the distance of the actual buildings that have been damaged by this, it was quite a significant blast," he told reporters.
The truck driver and only occupant, a man in his early 20s, died at the scene, while a 39-year-old woman was taken to Footscray Hospital in a stable condition.
A few bystanders also suffered minor injuries.
Nineteen residents were evacuated from their homes due to fears the explosion may have dislodged asbestos, Insp L'Estrange said.
Some of the residents were allowed back by Tuesday evening although part of the scene at the corner of Gordon and Barkly streets was expected to remain cordoned off into the night.
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