Coopersburg, Pennsylvania
Gas Explosion
February 22, 1973
Coopersburg blast kills 5
Broken gas line may be cause
COOPERSBURG, Pa. (AP) – Workmen installing a
sewer may have disturbed a gas line causing an
explosion which leveled an apartment building
her, killing five persons and injuring 22
others, a gas company official reports.
RICHARD L. BUNN, vice-president of United Gas
Improvement Company said gas company crews
arrived at the site shortly after being notified
by the workmen. Gas company personnel had begun
evacuating the six-unit apartment building when
the blast occurred Wednesday.
Two houses also were set afire and several
other buildings had windows blown out and
roofing, porch columns and rain spouts torn
free.
Four of the dead lived in the apartment
building. State Police identified them as MRS.
THELMA HOFFHINES, 53; MRS. MARY JANE SACKS, 26;
STEVEN GAUCHES, 3, and a 2-year-old girl, TERRY
LAUB.
The body of the fifth victim, CHARLES URMY,
69, was recovered from his house, a two-story
duplex that was completely gutted by fire.
It was next door to the apartment building in
which 21 persons lived.
Coopersburg, a community of about 2,300
persons, is located about 10 miles south of
Allentown.
The injured, many of them seriously hurt,
were taken to four area hospitals. Two of the,
JOSEPH MICHAEL, 25, of Allentown, and ORVIN
COSSGROVE, 30, of nearby Coplay, were reported
in critical condition by a spokesman at
Allentown General Hospital.
The recovery operation began as soon as fires
could be put under control following the
noontime explosion. The last body – that of
TERRY LAUB – was found at about 10:30 p. m.
Wednesday.
The blast scattered debris over an area of
several blocks, with toys, furniture, clothing
and other articles strewn about and two blocks
of buildings, including several homes, giving a
stark appearance with their empty windows.
Heavy equipment and hundreds of police,
firemen and volunteers moved in to begin the
rescue efforts and to clean up the rubble and
debris.
Delaware County Daily Times Chester,
Pennsylvania 1973-02-22
Gas odor back in Coopersburg
COOPERSBURG, Pa. (AP) – The smell of gas
which lingered before an explosion ripped
through an apartment house here killing five
persons, returned today, forcing the evacuation
of a factory, a school and two dozen homes.
A newsman in Coopersburg said about 100
workers at the Dale Footwear Co. and about 200
pupils at the Coopersburg Elementary School were
moved out of the area, as were occupants of the
homes.
The school and shoe factory are located
within a two-block area of the leveled apartment
building.
To odor of gas was still evident in the
immediate vicinity of the blast site this
morning, posing the possibility that rising
winds may have wafted the smell into the area
that was evacuated.
A gas company official reported Wednesday
night that workmen installing a sewer apparently
“disturbed a gas line” causing the explosion. In
addition to those killed, 22 persons were
injured. The blast occurred about noon
Wednesday.
RICHARD L. BUNN, vice-president of United Gas
Improvement Company said gas company crews
arrived at the site shortly after being notified
by the workmen. Gas company personnel had begun
evacuating the six-unit apartment building when
the blast occurred Wednesday.
Two houses also were set afire and several
other buildings had windows blown out and
roofing, porch columns and rain spouts torn
free.
Four of the dead lived in the apartment
building. State Police identified them as MRS.
THELMA HOFFHINES, 53; MRS. MARY JANE SACKS, 26,
STEVEN GAUCHES, 3, and a 2-year-old girl, TERRY
LAUB.
The body of the fifth victim, CHARLES URMY,
69, was recovered from his house, a two-story
duplex that was completely gutted by fire.
The Valley Independent Monessen,
Pennsylvania 1973-02-22
Submitted & transcribed by Stu
Beitler Thank you,
Stu!
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