Two injured in Eastside explosion

The Indianapolis Star ^ | February 4, 2004 | John Holl

[Samwise]

A powerful explosion destroyed an Irvington home around 2:40 a.m. today, sending a shock wave through a two-block radius -- causing severe damage to several homes and a nearby nursing home, downing power lines, shattering windows and injuring at least two people.

Fire department officials said the cause and origin of the explosion, which took place on the 300 block of South Ritter Avenue, was still under investigation.

Indianapolis Fire Department spokesman Captain Gregg Harris said a 57-year-old man who lived at the house was transported to Wishard Memorial Hospital in serious condition.

A 17-year-old neighbor was taken to Community Hospital for breathing problems.

Almost four hours after the explosion, a gas fire still burned in a crater where the house once stood -- sending plumes of smoke into the frigid morning air.

The houses next to the explosion site suffered heavy damage and would likely be demolished, Harris said.

(snip)

"It "sounded like a bomb," said neighbor Christie Lant as she cleaned glass from her living room floor. She and her husband Joel were asleep when the explosion rocked them out of bed.

"I won't forget this night ever," she said "This was not a good way to wake up."

Across the street, Jim Hubbard stood on his brother's porch and watched the fire burn. "How did someone not die in that," he wondered aloud.

He said he felt the blast from his home, a half mile away, and since his brother was at work, he came to check on the damage.

"Lots of shattered glass, a few broken doors, and the ceiling collapsed over my nephew's bed upstairs," he said, noting that his nephew was not home at the time of the explosion. "We were very fortunate here, all this can be fixed."

[Samwise]

The man who lived in the house had been smelling gas for several days, according to the radio, but didn't report it.

[nsmart]

Imagine living in Iraq.. Imagine the real bombs going off and not just injuries.. but how many deaths... ;-(

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

They admit this - but the family will sue the gas company, appliance companies, the local grocery, the company that made their piano, etc., and win. You watch.

[Samwise]

You watch.

If I see a lawsuit show up in the paper, I'll ping you. It's nice to be proven right.

I'm sorry for the neighbors.

[appalachian_dweller]

Maybe it's just me, but there have been quite a few of these explosions lately. There was one in Front Royal, Va a couple of weeks ago. About 2 months ago, there was a similar explosion in Ashburn, Va. Just seems odd, but maybe they happen more often then reported. Or maybe I'm paying closer attention.

Just my $0.02.