Topeka house explosion caused by damaged gas line
Photographer: KSHB
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Posted: 01/31/2012
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By: Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. - Fire investigators say a Topeka house exploded after a contractor hit a gas line.
The home of 73-year-old Lucinia Tolliver exploded Monday.
Topeka Fire Department investigator Michael Martin says the contractor hit the gas line while excavating to install a sprinkler system at a neighboring home.
Police Lt. Jana Harden said Tolliver was "alert, conscious and aware" when emergency responders arrived at her home but she was hospitalized for treatment.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reported Tolliver was a retired typesetter at the newspaper who lived alone.
Green said gas was shut off to 77 homes shortly after the explosion. He anticipated the gas would remain shut off at seven homes in the immediate vicinity of the house that exploded.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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