KANSAS CITY — A child died and two others were seriously injured in a gas explosion in Lexington, about an hour east of Kansas City. The explosion also damaged surrounding houses.
The investigation indicates the explosion happened around 7:45pm on Wednesday when a man inside the home lit a cigarette, igniting gas that had filled the residence.
Authorities said a subcontractor working on a fiber optic line had accidentally struck a gas main.
Three people were inside the home at the time of the explosion.
The man, believed to be the father, suffered critical burns and was airlifted to a Kansas City hospital.
A second child was transported to Children’s Mercy Hospital.
The explosion shook the neighborhood. A neighbor said he was watching TV when he heard the explosion.
“There wasn't a fire going on, but you could see debris on the road," Travis Summers said. “You could see a little girl coming out of the debris. It was a few minutes before I got outside. It's pretty chaotic.”