O’NEILL, Neb. — A low-speed crash involving a gas line led to an explosion that obliterated the St. Patrick’s Parish Center and affected many surrounding buildings and homes in O’Neill.
According to the O’Neill Police Department, a 58-year-old man, identified as a Guatemalan national, struck the gas line supplying the parish center. The incident occurred approximately 50 minutes prior to the explosion, which happened just before 6:00 a.m. Police reported that the collision damaged the gas line, resulting in a natural gas leak into the building, which later ignited and caused the explosion and subsequent fire.
Authorities noted that the driver cooperated with the investigation and was taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. There are no indications that he was under the influence of alcohol or any drugs.
The investigation is ongoing, and police have stated they will provide additional updates as they become available.
Emergency response efforts involved fire departments from O’Neill, Atkinson, Chambers, and Ewing, as well as the Holt County Sheriff’s Office, Holt County Emergency Management, Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol, ATF, and the county attorney’s office.
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