A federal agency is investigating whether a gas leak is to blame for the blasts in a San Antonio neighborhood.
SAN ANTONIO — At least three people remain in critical condition at Brooke Army Medical Center two days after explosions at two homes in north San Antonio—a fiery late-night emergency now being investigated by a federal agency.
Law enforcement, firefighting crews and CPS Energy representatives responded to the Preston Hollow neighborhood in response to the initial blast around 6 p.m. Tuesday, in which three people were hurt. Another blast rocked a home two doors down around 8:20 p.m., hurting two others.
Investigators are focusing on a possible gas leak as the cause. City leaders said around 10 homes in all were directly impacted, with several sustaining heavy damage.
Officials said four people – Timothy Nowell, Kimberly Nowell, Mayte Reeves and Jose Ochoa – were still being treated at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research on Thursday afternoon. The Nowells and Reeves were still in critical condition, while Ochoa was progressing and listed as “good.”
A fifth victim, the Nowells’ daughter, who attends MacArthur High School, was listed as being in critical condition at University Hospital on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board has sent a team of investigators to San Antonio to review the scene, including “an initial visual examination of the pipeline and equipment involved.” The agency expects to review the human factors behind the explosions – which happened about two hours apart Tuesday night – as well as the gas pipeline system and the “operating environment.”
A preliminary report is expected by May 22.
Meanwhile, a Dallas-based attorney who won a $109 million jury verdict against CPS Energy for a previous gas explosion in the Alamo City, said homeowners can buy a combustible gas indicator if they’re seeking peace of mind.
CPS Energy officials said Thursday night that utility services in the neighborhood are “clear and safe” after the blasts. The company’s Energy Customer Response Unit has helped more than 20 other nearby residents, some of whom returned to homes damaged by the blasts; other customers needing help can contact 210-353-2222.