Unstable rubble hampered investigators’ efforts Friday to determine what caused a thunderous explosion that killed one person, injured at least seven and leveled a downtown restaurant and a store in Pueblo.
“We still don’t know exactly what happened,” Pueblo Fire Department spokesman Gary Micheli said.
The mounds of rubble kept federal and state officials from getting a close look at the destruction to find possible causes of Thursday’s blast. Investigators wanted to inspect a natural-gas line and a gas meter at the restaurant, said Woody Percival, another Fire Department spokesman.
City arson investigators and agents from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation were at the scene. Agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were expected to arrive Saturday.
“That’s not to say whether we suspect anything at this point in time,” said Police Chief John Ercul. “It may be an accident.”
Micheli said the investigation could take up to a couple months.
A gas leak was found in a street next to the destroyed Branch Inn restaurant and A Classic Boutique store. But it wasn’t clear whether the pipe was ruptured by the explosion or contributed to it, Percival said.
The break was in a main gas line about 20 feet from the point where a feeder line runs to the building that exploded. At least one witness reported smelling gas after the blast.
Thursday’s explosion at 2:10 p.m. spewed glass, brick and other debris more than 100 feet and damaged surrounding buildings and cars. A door hinge was embedded in the fender of a sport utility vehicle.
Ashley R. Johnson, 22, who had been in the boutique, died at Parkview Medical Center, Pueblo County coroner James Kramer told The Pueblo Chieftain.
Eugene Roney, 74, who had been in the restaurant, was in critical condition at Parkview, police said. Also hospitalized were Frank Vigil, 41, co-owner of the Branch Inn; Kevin Trujillo, 40; Jennifer Flower, 23; and Nick Stabile, 18, the Chieftain reported.
At least one other person was taken to a medical center. Flower was flown to a Denver hospital for treatment. Trujillo and Stabile were treated and released, and Vigil was in fair condition.
