TheCableVine
May 23rd, 2008, 03:38 AM
ldnews.com (http://ldnews.com/news/ci_9346185)
HUMMELSTOWN — An early afternoon explosion, which one witness called “almost like a bomb,” leveled a vacant former restaurant and damaged several nearby buildings after a backhoe struck an underground natural-gas pipe yesterday.
Four people were injured in the 1:37 p.m. blast that leveled the East End Restaurant at 300 E. Main St., but, according to Hummelstown officials, it could have been much worse.
Fire Chief Charlie Cogan said three people were taken away by ambulances, and all were released after treatment at an unspecified hospital. A fourth person arrived at a hospital by private vehicle, Cogan said, adding that he believed that person only had minor injuries.
Police Chief Charles Dowell said one of the injured was a construction worker — although not the backhoe operator — and two others were in a passing vehicle when the blast occurred. Their names were not available by press time this morning.
The explosion ignited a three-alarm blaze. Hours after the blast, there was only some steel framing still standing in the restaurant. Cinder blocks, appliances, lumber and other debris had been bulldozed into a pile.
Outside the smoldering structure, a crumpled white minivan lay on its roof. Dowell said it was being used by a woman who lived in an apartment above the former eatery. Luckily, he said, she was not home when the explosion erupted.
Michael Fessler, marketing manager for UGI Utilities Inc.’s west region, said a contractor working on a construction project in the area called UGI to locate the utility’s facilities.
The gas lines were located, but the contractor continued digging and struck the pipe, which was clearly marked, Fessler said.
The backhoe hit a 3/4-inch service pipe that connected to the main line running along Main Street, said Eric Swortley, operations manager for UGI’s west region. Swortley said he expected pipe repairs to take less than two hours and would probably not delay the construction project.
“(It) is a joint project with PennDOT called a Safe Route to School project,” Hummelstown borough manager Mike O’Keefe explained. “The goal is to install sidewalks on our east end of town and on Quarry Road to create a pedestrian walkway out to our Lower Dauphin Middle School.”
Though the backhoe struck the pipe near the street, the explosion occurred in the 300 E. Main St. building, Swortley said.
Dowell said no one was inside the building when the blast occurred.
Cogan called it amazing that no one was seriously hurt. He said it helped matters that workers were behind a dump truck, which shielded them from flying debris.
Adam Brightbill of Hummelstown said he was driving east on Main Street in front of the former restaurant when the building exploded.
“It was loud — like a boom, almost like a bomb,” he said. “I just stopped. I was wondering ‘What the hell?’ I was pretty much shocked. I mean, pretty much I froze for like at least 30 seconds. ... I was wondering a lot of things. I just remember seeing debris come down and ... hoping it doesn’t actually hit my car.”
Brightbill’s car sustained minor damage.
No UGI natural-gas services were interrupted, and no gas leaks were expected, Fessler said.
Main Street was closed between Cameron Avenue and Hanna Street until late last night.
Palmyra Citizens and Campbelltown Volunteer fire companies were among the 19 crews that responded, according to county dispatch logs.
A fire marshal was to return today to finish the investigation, Cogan said.
No damage estimate was available by press time.
HUMMELSTOWN — An early afternoon explosion, which one witness called “almost like a bomb,” leveled a vacant former restaurant and damaged several nearby buildings after a backhoe struck an underground natural-gas pipe yesterday.
Four people were injured in the 1:37 p.m. blast that leveled the East End Restaurant at 300 E. Main St., but, according to Hummelstown officials, it could have been much worse.
Fire Chief Charlie Cogan said three people were taken away by ambulances, and all were released after treatment at an unspecified hospital. A fourth person arrived at a hospital by private vehicle, Cogan said, adding that he believed that person only had minor injuries.
Police Chief Charles Dowell said one of the injured was a construction worker — although not the backhoe operator — and two others were in a passing vehicle when the blast occurred. Their names were not available by press time this morning.
The explosion ignited a three-alarm blaze. Hours after the blast, there was only some steel framing still standing in the restaurant. Cinder blocks, appliances, lumber and other debris had been bulldozed into a pile.
Outside the smoldering structure, a crumpled white minivan lay on its roof. Dowell said it was being used by a woman who lived in an apartment above the former eatery. Luckily, he said, she was not home when the explosion erupted.
Michael Fessler, marketing manager for UGI Utilities Inc.’s west region, said a contractor working on a construction project in the area called UGI to locate the utility’s facilities.
The gas lines were located, but the contractor continued digging and struck the pipe, which was clearly marked, Fessler said.
The backhoe hit a 3/4-inch service pipe that connected to the main line running along Main Street, said Eric Swortley, operations manager for UGI’s west region. Swortley said he expected pipe repairs to take less than two hours and would probably not delay the construction project.
“(It) is a joint project with PennDOT called a Safe Route to School project,” Hummelstown borough manager Mike O’Keefe explained. “The goal is to install sidewalks on our east end of town and on Quarry Road to create a pedestrian walkway out to our Lower Dauphin Middle School.”
Though the backhoe struck the pipe near the street, the explosion occurred in the 300 E. Main St. building, Swortley said.
Dowell said no one was inside the building when the blast occurred.
Cogan called it amazing that no one was seriously hurt. He said it helped matters that workers were behind a dump truck, which shielded them from flying debris.
Adam Brightbill of Hummelstown said he was driving east on Main Street in front of the former restaurant when the building exploded.
“It was loud — like a boom, almost like a bomb,” he said. “I just stopped. I was wondering ‘What the hell?’ I was pretty much shocked. I mean, pretty much I froze for like at least 30 seconds. ... I was wondering a lot of things. I just remember seeing debris come down and ... hoping it doesn’t actually hit my car.”
Brightbill’s car sustained minor damage.
No UGI natural-gas services were interrupted, and no gas leaks were expected, Fessler said.
Main Street was closed between Cameron Avenue and Hanna Street until late last night.
Palmyra Citizens and Campbelltown Volunteer fire companies were among the 19 crews that responded, according to county dispatch logs.
A fire marshal was to return today to finish the investigation, Cogan said.
No damage estimate was available by press time.