18/08/2018
An UPDATE on the explosion in Homerville yesterday:
The Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Department has concluded their investigation into Friday's explosion at Coffee Corner in Homerville. According to Glenn Allen, spokesman for that department, the explosion was caused by gas that leaked into a sewer line connected to the East Dame Avenue building. Allen said that on Friday, utility crews working nearby struck a gas line and a sewer line.
"They knew they struck a gas line, and AGL (Atlanta Gas & Light) capped the gas line," Allen said Saturday morning. "But it was unknown that they had also hit a sewer line. That ended up resulting in the explosion."
The gas from the leak went into the sewer line, and into Coffee Corner, igniting in a fiery explosion inside the building.
He said the department's probe ruled the incident accidental.
The explosion occured at 12:17 p.m. Friday, and injured three Homerville women who were inside Coffee Corner – customer Emily Tolle and employees Anna O'Guin and Baylee Tolle. Baylee and Emily are sisters.
They were life-flighted to Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Fla. from the Homerville Airport. According to family members, O'Guin has been diagnosed with third-degree burns on her hands, arms and feet. Baylee Tolle has been diagnosed with third-degree burns on her legs, and Emily Tolle has been diagnosed with third-degree burns on her arms and hands. The sisters' father, Shannon Tolle, said Baylee Tolle has 40 percent of her body burned, and Emily around 20 percent.
The explosion destroyed the small, brick building near the intersection of Highways 84 and 441. Tolle said his daughters crawled from the wreckage of the building. A bystander, Shannon Smith of Homerville, helped O'Guin escape the building, which was briefly on fire.
"We want to thank everyone for all the prayers and support they have shown us," said Shannon Tolle Saturday. "It means so much to us to have the community support us and pray for us. We appreciate everyone – from the emergency workers to the people at the hospital – and what they have done to help."
O'Guin's stepfather, Robbie Lee of Fargo, said the girls need the community's prayers in facing recovery.
"We are asking everyone to pray to God for pain relief and guidance for the doctors to do what’s right for these girls," Lee said in a Facebook message. "They have a long way to go but we feel fortunate we have a God, family, and community behind us."
Homerville Mayor Tom Kennedy said emergency and utility crews have cleared downtown Homerville of any further danger from the leak. Shortly after the explosion, downtown businesses were shut down as officials looked to see if gas was an issue at any other facilities.
The News will have more on this story in its next edition, coming out Wednesday. We will also update here on further developments.
Story by Len Robbins, The Clinch County News ©
Photo by Laura Nipper, The Clinch County News ©