By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – A Columbiana man was injured after a chemical reaction from a car battery explosion Nov. 19.

According to law enforcement officials, the man tried to use his car battery, jumper cables and metal plates to heat water. The combination caused a chemical reaction, which “appeared, on first reaction, (to be) a meth lab,” said Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Russell Bedsole.

A 911 call was made about 12:40 p.m. The Shelby County Drug Task Force reported to the scene on Shelby County 30 in Columbiana. A local HAZMAT team also responded and blocked the road.

“The drug task force went out and discovered it was, at least in that form and function, was not a meth lab,” Bedsole said.

The man was transported to UAB hospital by Alabama Lifesaver.