Ohio explosion caused by cut gas line thought to be turned off, investigators say
sent the façade across the street. Bricks, glass and other debris littered the sidewalk outside the 13-story building, which had a Chase Bank branch at street level and apartments in upper floors. Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown said in a news release Friday that the city had contracted with a construction company called GreenHeart to perform private utility relocation in the basement of the Realty Tower.
He said “there is no evidence" that cutting the gas line the NTSB mentioned was necessary to complete that work. Greenheart did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday evening. The bank employee, 27-year-old Akil Drake, had been seen inside the building just before the blast, police have said.
Firefighters rescued others as they cleared the building. Seven injured people were taken to a Youngstown hospital. One woman remained hospitalized as of Thursday in critical condition, but her name and further details on her injuries have not been disclosed.
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