2 people, 1 dog killed in central Minnesota house explosion
PRINCETON TOWNSHIP, Minn. — Two people were killed in a home explosion in central Minnesota Tuesday morning, authorities said.
The call for the explosion came in just before 4 a.m. for the area of 8200 block of 52nd Street in Princeton Township, according to the Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Office.
When deputies arrived, they located a large debris field from an apparent explosion that was still on fire. Multiple fire departments responded and extinguished the fire.
A man and woman who were renting the home were found dead, along with their dog, according to the sheriff's office. Officials identified the two dead as Royce and Katherine Kreger — ages 60 and 61, respectively.
An absolutely tragic scene in Princeton, MN. Husband and wife killed in an early morning home explosion, along with their family dog. Blast was heard 7 miles away.
— Adam Duxter (@AdamDuxter) May 7, 2024
MN State Fire Marshal’s office on scene working on cause of blast.
Latest tonight on @wcco at 4 and 5. pic.twitter.com/2TwFunxSUn
"This is mass destruction," Chief Deputy Aaron Evenson said. "To see bent metal from the frame of this home has been thrown 50-plus yards, twisted. I have not seen something quite to this degree when it's come to explosions."
WCCO spoke with a nearby resident who said they heard a loud explosion. Multiple emergency vehicles responded to the scene.
The cause of the blast is being investigated by the sheriff's office and the State Fire Marshal. It's expected to take weeks.
A witness, Cathy Morrissey, shared a video with WCCO hat she took of the debris on fire after the explosion.
"Dear God, pray for these people, please," she is heard saying in the video.
"I've never heard anything like it," she described the sound to WCCO. "All you could see across the street from us in the trees were flames.
"To say that something like this isn't overwhelming would be a blatant lie," Evenson said. "It doesn't matter how long you do a career field like this — every day is something new. It's kind of a punch in the gut to wake up to something like this."
Princeton Township is located about 55 miles north of Minneapolis.