HILLTOWN TWP., Pa. – An explosion leveled a house in Hilltown Township, Bucks County Monday morning.
County dispatchers said it happened shortly before 9 a.m. on the 100 block of Highview Road.
“I heard like a bomb explosion,” said James Rogy III.
Rogy’s family started walking toward their neighbor’s home on the 100 block of Highview Road in Hilltown Township after hearing that noise and feeling a vibration.
“It was just like, ‘wow’. The whole house was gone,” said Rogy.
Rogy’s son was right next to him.
“My thought was who was in there, is everybody okay?” said James Rogy IV.
Hilltown Township’s Chief of Police said one person who was working at the house when the explosion happened was injured.
The explosion happened right in front of their neighbor Steve Kendra’s eyes. He said he could see the contractor who was inside the home crawling out of the debris.
“I honestly think I went into a little bit of a shock, cause it was one of the very rare times I left the house without my phone. All I wanted to do was drive out here, put mail in the box and go back. I couldn’t call 911,” said Kendra.
Neighbors, including a doctor who was out walking, jumped right into action.
The man was taken to the hospital and is being treated for burn injuries.
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“Very lucky first of all that the person who was on the property was not more severely injured,” said Hilltown Township Police Chief Christopher Engelhart.
Investigators said they are looking into a propane tank used for one of the appliances. The owners of the home were away and nobody else was inside when the explosion happened in this tight-knit community.
“Everyone is very connected here. All our neighbors are great. We have really great relationships with them and it’s just shocking to see something like this could even happen in our neighborhood,” said Rogy IV.
Police said the contractor who was injured is expected to survive. Multiple agencies are investigating what led up to this explosion.