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Cause Outlined, Neighbor Reaction in House Explosion Incident

by KREX News Room
by Cori Coffin

Story Created: Mar 19, 2013 at 10:53 PM MDT

Story Updated: Mar 19, 2013 at 11:04 PM MDT

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - The stench of gas lingered in the air as traffic officials scrambled to get people out of the area around 7th Street and Orchard Avenue after an incident that never should have occurred.

"There was a directional bore going into place. That's when you put a line in without digging it. You drill through and then pull the line back through. There was an unmarked gas line and it was clipped," explained Damon Gant with Grand Valley Traffic Control.

Officials say gas got into the sewer system and spread, creating a nightmare for the quiet, residential neighborhood.

"It was awful ... if was an awful site," recalled Hillary Vice, an eye-witness.

"It sounded like there was a car crash right in our yard. It rattled all the windows," said David Powell, a neighbor the next block over.

Tuesday afternoon, neighbors recalled the terrifying moments after the gas leak sparked and ripped into a Grand Junction home.

"I was screaming for my friends but they weren't coming out," said Conor Hatch.

He and Demi Belomer were just steps away from walking into the house when booming noises turned into flames before their eyes.

"I saw the garage explode and then I saw the whole house explode and then fall down," added Hatch.

"There were flames, I'd say, 50 feet in the air," said Powell.

"I've never run so fast before in my life to get to where it happened to see if people were okay," explained Vice.

The three people inside survived, but were rushed to the hospital.

"They had some burns to them. One guys face was super pale and had some bleeding inside his mouth," described Vice.

As friends and neighbors looked on helplessly, all they could do was hope the silent predator doesn't strike again.

"I'm scared. I'm very scared," said Vice.

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Mike said on Wednesday, Mar 20 at 1:23 PM

Gas company didn't hit their own line. Boring company did. Gas company hires Utility Locate Companies to locate their lines. No digging until locates done.

hall ave said on Wednesday, Mar 20 at 11:29 AM

so they are saying the it was the gas company that did "clip and un marked line" un marked or not shouldnt they be able to check for that stuff BEFORE doing work, that would be what makes sense but after all this is grand junction right? my question is that since it was the lag on the construction companies end then it would only make sense for either them as well as the cities job to help replace what was lost? including the text books for students, medical costs and housing costs, not just say oh well sorry that happened we wish you luck.....during evacuation they didnt even help my elderly neighbors out of their home, as well as giving the person who was trying to help hell about driving two houses down...this city is going down the drain ill be thankful to leave

Anonymous said on Wednesday, Mar 20 at 11:19 AM

Good questions raised here. Of course no one will ever be held accountable. im not saying this is what happened, but.......in many cases here is what happens: To save some money government contracted out the work to the lowest bidder. Now this saved money won't be returned to the overburdened taxpayer, rather for the kingly salaries of 'public servants'. The lowest bidder hurries to get the job done leading to problems. Hopefully the victims of this incompetence did not have their faces melted off. I wonder if any savings were worth it considering the massive overtime our firefighters and police have put in? I guess it's no big deal, we can just raise taxes and jack up XCEL bills.

Mike said on Wednesday, Mar 20 at 11:03 AM

If utility locator doesn't mark a line the work crews don't know it is there unless construction plans show it. How did boring crew hit the line if it was 7 feet deep? Conduits for traffic signals only need to be 2 feet deep.

neighbor said on Wednesday, Mar 20 at 10:29 AM

They only marked the local line to the houses, not the major transmission line.

Gotta ask said on Wednesday, Mar 20 at 8:16 AM

News outlets reported the line hit was a major supply line for the CMU campus. How is it then being called - "UNMARKED"? That does not make sense folks. Wouldn't work crews know where these are? Glad everyone sounds like they will be ok.

jesse said on Wednesday, Mar 20 at 8:03 AM

thank god every one is ok

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