At a gas station in the Ruhr area town of Witten, a car driver used an automatic vacuum cleaner to get super fuel out of his diesel vehicle and triggered an explosion.
A passenger was slightly injured, according to the police, all those involved fled.
According to Monday's announcement, the driver accidentally filled up with super on Saturday evening and then rolled the car to the petrol station's vacuum cleaner machine.
"He put the hose of the stationary vacuum cleaner into the tank nozzle and switched the device on to suck up the petrol," said the police.
Immediately afterwards there was an explosion.
One of two women who accompanied the man was injured as a result.
"When a witness approached the driver and offered his help, he said that the apparently slightly injured woman would first be taken to a hospital and then come back," the police said.
In fact, the trio no longer appeared.
Inquiries from the police in nearby hospitals were unsuccessful.
The investigators are now looking for witnesses.