May 30, 2008 11:26 am US/Central
Explosion Flattens House In Harvey
House Was Vacant, But Passing Child Is Injured
HARVEY, Ill. (CBS) ―
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This house in Harvey was flattened by an explosion Friday morning.
It was a frightening scene in south suburban Harvey Friday morning when an explosion flattened a house, leaving a passing child injured when debris went flying.
As CBS 2's Mike Parker reports, an apparent gas leak triggered an explosion that destroyed the one-story frame house at 37 E. 158th St., near Vine Street, around 8:21 a.m.
Nicor Gas was called to the scene to assist police and fire crews, company spokesman Richard Caragol said.
When Nicor authorities arrived on the scene at 8:27 a.m., the gas was already turned off to the vacant home. It is unclear whether police and fire crews turned off the gas or gas service to the home had previously been suspended, Caragol said.
The house had been vacant for over a month, and it was not believed that anyone was inside at the time of the blast.
The Mack family was asleep in the house next door when the explosion rocked them awake. Their home was damaged by the explosion.
"The whole front room is damaged," said Mischell Mack. "There's debris in the front room from the house next door."
"I thought it was a car hitting the house," said Tyrone Mack, "and then we started smelling gas, and that's when we were like, 'Everybody get away from the house.'"
A little boy in the family added, "I heard a big boom-boom, and I was very shocked."
A child walking past the house on the way to school was hit by flying debris. The child's injuries are not thought to be serious.
Members of the Mack family say they consider themselves very lucky to be alive and that all that was damaged was their house.
The exact cause of the explosion was under investigation late Friday morning.
CBS 2's Mike Parker, WBBM Newsradio 780 and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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