Police: O’Neill, Nebraska explosion happened after a vehicle struck a gas line

O’NEILL, Neb. (KTIV) - Authorities have completed their initial investigation into a Northeast Nebraska explosion and have released information on what they believe caused the blast.

At about 6 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 7, an explosion and fire were reported in the town of O’Neill, located in Holt County.

The explosion happened at the St. Patrick’s Parish Center on the St. Mary’s School campus. The fire that broke out was under control within an hour and first responders found at the scene a vehicle they believed was associated with the explosion.

The O’Neill Police Department says initial findings showed that 50 minutes before the explosion the vehicle had a low-speed collision with a gas line that fed into the center. According to police, natural gas leaked into the building and eventually ignited, causing the explosion and fire that damaged the surrounding homes, classroom buildings and the nearby hospital.

Police say the vehicle’s driver was identified as a 58-year-old Guatemalan national. With the assistance of an interpreter, police say the man cooperated with the investigation before being transported to an Omaha hospital. His current condition is unknown.

As of Tuesday morning, there is no evidence the man was under the influence of any alcohol or intoxicating substances during the collision.

“This matter will remain under investigation and further updates will be provided if and when they are available. We appreciate the outpouring of support from the public,” stated the O’Neill Police Department in a press release. “We offer our support and sympathy to all those affected and especially to those who lost their homes and the leaders of the Parish and Hospital as they work through this very difficult time.”

The explosion and fire caused extension damage to the center, as well as several nearby buildings.

The nearby hospital, Avera St. Anthony’s, remains closed as of Tuesday morning as they assess the damage to the building. They have set up a care center at the O’Neill Community Center where they plan to treat people for common illnesses and minor injuries until 1 p.m.

The high school and grade school at St. Mary’s were also closed due to damage. They plan to remain closed for the rest of the week.

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O’NEILL, Neb. (KTIV) - A two-story building exploded, causing a massive fire Monday morning in the town of O’Neill, Nebraska.

According to fire officials, the St. Patrick’s Parish Center, a two-story building on the campus of St. Mary’s School, exploded just before 6 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024.

Chancellor Tim McNeil with the Archdiocese of Omaha told KTIV that when fire departments got to the building, it was fully engulfed in flames. McNeil says the Parish Center was empty at the time of the explosion and no major injuries were reported. The center was used as an event hall to hold large gatherings and also contained staff officers.

“It’s somewhat surreal you don’t, you know you hear of explosions or you know buildings exploding but don’t really, this is brand new to us we’ve never had a building explode in town I don’t think so,” said Terry Miles, Communications Officer for the O’Neill Fire Department.

The fire was under control within an hour, but at times, KBRX Radio said, flames were 50-60 feet high. According to McNeil, houses near the center were evacuated as well.

What caused the explosion is still unclear.

“On arrival, the building was totally engulfed, there was also debris out in the street the building obviously had exploded or there was an explosion on site,” said Miles. “There are houses across the street, there’s a house across the street that’s probably totaled.”

Classes were canceled Monday at St. Mary’s Elementary and High School. McNeil says some of the campus buildings were damaged by the explosion and fire.

The school’s Facebook page says the high school and grade school buildings were “compromised” because of the explosion and they are waiting for a structural engineer to assess the damage. School officials say classes at the grade school and high school are canceled for the rest of this as they evaluate alternate locations to hold classes if that becomes necessary.

Also damaged was the nearby hospital Avera St. Anthony’s. The hospital’s Facebook page says no patients or employees reported major injuries because of the explosion but the building did have window and door damage.

The hospital says it is closed for Monday and patients were being diverted to other facilities in the area. A temporary, modified care center was set up at the O’Neill Community Center for non-emergency needs.

“If you are having a medical or mental health emergency, please dial 911. The hospital may be reached by calling 402-336-2611 and pressing 0, but please note that any calls during this emergency situation should be for urgent needs. All other phone number options are currently unavailable,” stated the hospital on Facebook.

There’s no timeline right now for when the hospital and clinic will re-open.

“We have facility experts on site, we have contractors on site doing a full evaluation of what the total of the damage was, and then we’ll decide where we go from there with reopening services and that kind of thing I think at this point it’s going to be quite a while before we can offer things like emergency services and maybe even inpatient services,” said John Kozyra, CEO at Avera St. Anthony’s Hospital.

O’Neill reacts to the explosion

While in O’Neill, KTIV spoke with several community members, including nearby neighbors of the center.

“It rattled the house, it just hammered,” said Rick Nolze, an O’Neill resident.

Many residents in O’Neill were startled awake Monday morning after the explosion at St. Patrick’s Parish Center.

“We’re about a half a block away from the impact when I, being here at the time it was the loudest explosion I’ve ever experienced,” said Wendell Sitz, a local chiropractor.

Wendell Sitz, a Chiropractor at Sitz Chiropractor, was getting ahead on medical papers in his office when he heard a bang.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before, this was amazing, this was just a little before six and the loudest boom noise I’ve ever heard in my life occurred. I was doing electronic medical records on my computer when my window behind me blew out onto me and I was definitely startled, didn’t know what had happened,” said Sitz.

Many of the houses nearby were affected by the force of the explosion shattering windows, and knocking down supplies within the homes.

Nolze took it upon himself to check on his neighbors while getting a glimpse of the scene.

“I saw flames shooting up about 40 maybe 60 feet, the glass was just all over the place, the doors were gone off the building and the building’s side was completely down. All it had was flames and maybe a couple pylons and stuff like that lying around but there was nothing left,” said Nozle.

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