Coroner: Patricia Roe Killed In Home Explosion In Gypsum
GYPSUM, Colo. (CBS4) - The Eagle County Coroner's Office has confirmed that 49-year-old Patricia Roe was killed in the home explosion in Gypsum on Sept. 17. The Vail Daily reports the victim is known as Patricia Ruiz Roe, married to Michael Roe.
The explosion occurred on Cottonwood Pass Road, and is believed to have been caused by a gas leak. The gas leak force parts of the Chatfield Corners neighborhood to evacuate for several days.
A boring company searching for fiber optics is suspected of causing a gas main to rupture. The gas ended up pooling, which caused the explosion. The soil there was so saturated that authorities believe that the gas line was hit days before -- and went unreported.
Red Hill Elementary School and Gypsum Creek Elementary School were both evacuated immediately after the explosion. They got a report of some gas line maintenance from the Eagle County Sheriff's Office that was being done around noon. Then the explosion happened at 12:35 p.m. Some students were outside eating lunch at the time. Counselors are now helping those students who might be struggling with the traumatic event of witnessing the explosion.