Grandmother killed, girl injured in New Hampshire house explosion during snowstorm
DERRY, NH - A grandmother was killed, and her 11-year-old granddaughter was injured when a house exploded in Derry, New Hampshire during a snowstorm Thursday morning. Relatives tell WBZ the explosion was caused by a tree falling onto a 200-pound propane tank next to the home.
Firefighters responded to the home on Goodhue Road at about 11:40 a.m. There was heavy fire when crews arrived.
Laura Percival, 76, died in the explosion. The New Hampshire Medical Examiner's Office said Friday Percival's death was caused from "complications of multiple blast injuries and the manner of her death was accidental."
The 11-year-old girl was able to run out of the house. She was taken to a Boston hospital with burns.
Neighbors like Gina Lebrun ran to help the child, then she rode in the ambulance with the little girl.
"You could tell the little girl was scared, and rightfully so," said Gina Lebrun. "The little girl kept saying her grandma was in the house, so we went over to the property, yelling for grandma and then came back up and I got mom on the phone with the little girl and went to the hospital with her."
Neighbors in the area say they heard and felt the explosion.
"We heard a big loud noise, and the house shook, and we thought a tree fell on the house and we did some quick recon outside then we saw a lot of police cars jetting down the street," said neighbor Michael Kelly. "It's extremely sad. It hits home. I have family that's close and I have a little guy out the window right now, so definitely hold your loved ones tonight."
New Hampshire Fire Marshal Sean Toomey said there was no danger to other homes in the area. "There is propane at that house, we've identified that as the only gas that's there," Toomey said.
Firefighters said the weather conditions made battling the fire difficult. Crews were still on scene late Thursday afternoon putting out hotspots.
"I would ask that everybody keeps the family in their thoughts as we process this tragedy, as well as my members, keep them in your thoughts as well," said Chief Shawn Haggard with the Derry Fire Department.
The state fire marshal said a preliminary investigation indicates a tree fell as a result of the nor'easter snowstorm and struck two propane tanks, causing a leak and the explosion.
"The goal for our office is to bring some closure if we can, to help the family understand what happened," said Toomey. "Then to help educate if we can, to prevent tragedies like this in the future."
The community is now rallying around this family to help them with fundraisers, even though a lot of neighbors still don't have power from the storm, they say considering this tragedy that is the least of their worries.