Madeira Police are investigating a “suspicious” explosion that rocked a quiet residential neighborhood and left one man in serious condition. According to police, around 1 a.m. officers originally responded to a call of an intoxicated person and a gas leak. Once crews arrived on scene, they found the home on fire, officials said. The back of the house had collapsed from the force of the explosion, trapping 63-year-old Gary Kuykendall in the basement, unable to move. Firefighters arriving to the scene said they could hear Kuykendall crying for help. Chief Steve Oughterson of the Madeira/Indian Hill Joint Fire District said it took a while to get him out of the basement. “Firefighters and Urban Search and Rescue had to remove debris, cut into the basement, lower themselves into the basement and then package him on a stretcher,” Oughterson said. The blast left Kuykendall badly burned and hospitalized in serious condition, officials said. Kuykendall’s family confirmed that he is currently in a coma. No other homes suffered damage, officials said. Dispatchers said they received a 911 call from Kuykendall’s wife who said, “He called my son and I and told us that he had cut the main gas in the house, and that he’s going to blow the house up with him inside it.”Linda Pavey, who grew up in the home when her parents owned it, said she was saddened by Wednesday’s events.”I’m very sad for what happened here,” Pavey said. “I wish the current family all the best and I hope that the injured party gets better soon.”Madeira Police Chief David Schaefer said he knows the community will pull together and lend support to the Kuykendall family as they work through a very damaging day.The cause of the explosion is under investigation.
Madeira Police are investigating a “suspicious” explosion that rocked a quiet residential neighborhood and left one man in serious condition.
According to police, around 1 a.m. officers originally responded to a call of an intoxicated person and a gas leak.
Once crews arrived on scene, they found the home on fire, officials said.
The back of the house had collapsed from the force of the explosion, trapping 63-year-old Gary Kuykendall in the basement, unable to move.
Firefighters arriving to the scene said they could hear Kuykendall crying for help.
Chief Steve Oughterson of the Madeira/Indian Hill Joint Fire District said it took a while to get him out of the basement.
“Firefighters and Urban Search and Rescue had to remove debris, cut into the basement, lower themselves into the basement and then package him on a stretcher,” Oughterson said.
The blast left Kuykendall badly burned and hospitalized in serious condition, officials said.
Kuykendall’s family confirmed that he is currently in a coma.
No other homes suffered damage, officials said.
Dispatchers said they received a 911 call from Kuykendall’s wife who said, “He [Gary] called my son and I and told us that he had cut the main gas in the house, and that he’s going to blow the house up with him inside it.”
Linda Pavey, who grew up in the home when her parents owned it, said she was saddened by Wednesday’s events.
“I’m very sad for what happened here,” Pavey said. “I wish the current family all the best and I hope that the injured party gets better soon.”
Madeira Police Chief David Schaefer said he knows the community will pull together and lend support to the Kuykendall family as they work through a very damaging day.
The cause of the explosion is under investigation.
