A gas explosion rocked a housing development in Mercer County, N.J., Tuesday afternoon, injuring at least nine people and leveling several homes.
The explosion happened at 28 Crockett Lane in Ewing Township while gas workers were trying to repair a line. Smoke could be seen from the air 24 miles away, according to NBC10's SkyForce10 crew.
The blast was so violent, people thought it was a plane crash.
"I was out having my lunch in my car and it shook my car and I looked back at the building because I thought maybe a plane had hit it,” said Carolyn Gavila, who works at law firm about 100 yards from the development.
“Then I watched the windows as they shook. I just sat there and I looked all around and it was quiet,” Gavila said. “And then all the sirens started going off and people were just running. Some were running into the building and some were running out to see what happened.”
The local gas company, PSE&G, confirms that it responded to a report that a gas line was damaged by a contractor at 28 Crockett Lane right before the explosion. "Crews were working on repairs when there was an ignition," said PSE&G spokeswoman Lindsey Puliti. Two gas workers are among the injured.
Bryan Gentry was in his car outside the post office. He heard the boom and felt it. When he saw the smoke, he drover didn't really think of anything. Everything just went back to normal." Gentry could see the smoke. He started driving in that direction. "As I was driving by, I just saw the fire." Gentry shot video with his cell phone.
"When I got down to the end. I saw this one guy. He was just staggering and people were running towards him," Gentry said. "He didn’t look like he was burned."
A spokesperson at Capital Health Medical Center in Pennington says they have four patients and are expecting two more. Two are considered trauma cases. Three more victims were sent to the Helene Fuld Campus in Trenton. One person is missing, according to New Jersey State Police.
PSE&G is planning a new briefing at 3 p.m.