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Home explosion leaves six dead
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Tuesday, September 6, 2005 12:05 PM EDT
Courtesy Photo ONLY RUBBLE remained following a home explosion that killed six on Copas Road in Caledonia Charter Township Saturday night. The children of Joyce and Mark Bryant of Virginia were visiting their aunt, homeowner Lori (Oginsky) Kuchar, when the home exploded about 11:30 p.m. Saturday. Three other children were transported to Hurley Medical Center in Flint, where they are listed in critical condition.
Argus-Press
CALEDONIA CHARTER TOWNSHIP - Six siblings were killed and three other children were critically injured in a Saturday night explosion that destroyed a rural Corunna home.
Killed were the children of Joyce (Oginsky) and Mark Bryant, Rebekah Marie Bryant, 19; Joseph Thomas Bryant, 10; Nehemiah Henry Bryant, 9; Martina Grace Bryant, 7; David Kostanty Bryant, 4; and Isaac Jackson Bryant, 2.
Eight of the nine involved were siblings from Eggleston, Va. who were visiting their aunt, Lori (Oginsky) Kuchar, the owner of the house at 3660 Copas Road, east of Escott Road in Caledonia Charter Township. The ninth victim was a family friend.
The blast survivors, Jonathan Caleb Bryant, 14, Sarah Judith Bryant, 6, and Joseph Moore, age unknown, son of Jan and Debra Moore, all were listed in critical condition at Hurley Medical Center in Flint Tuesday morning. The three were airlifted from the scene the night of the devastating explosion.
Police said the mother of the siblings and Kuchar were aiding another family member and were not home at the time of the blast.
The explosion was heard as far away as Delaney Road west of Owosso.
Several calls reporting the explosion began pouring into Shiawassee County Central Dispatch at 11:34 p.m. Saturday, police said
Emergency personnel were dispatched to search for the site of the explosion.
Corunna-Caledonia Fire Chief Scott Johnson said he heard the blast from his home and immediately went to the fire hall, knowing his department would be responding.
When emergency crews arrived at the Copas Road location, they found the explosion had completely destroyed the house, leaving a pile of scorched bricks and scattered building materials where the house once stood.
Johnson said it looked as though a tornado had directly hit the house.
Debris was scattered up to 100 feet in all directions from the house's foundation.
Johnson said Sunday the exact cause of the explosion may not be known for as many as 10 days. A team of investigators from the Michigan State Fire Marshal's office was on the scene most of the day Sunday, sifting through wreckage.
Police continued to block off the road from traffic Monday afternoon (Labor Day).
Caledonia Charter Township Supervisor Ronald Sukenik said it is important a thorough investigation be conducted to determine the cause of the fire.
"It's absolutely essential to find out what took place," he said. "We can use that information to prevent this from happening again."
Sukenik, who lives on Copas Road west of the explosion site, said there has been a tremendous outpouring of support for the victims and their families.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the survivors to make a full and complete recovery," he said. "Our thoughts and prayers also go out to the family, friends and neighbors of the victims. It's a real tragedy."
While emergency personnel questioned the crowds of gawkers which surrounded the former home, many community agencies, including the recently reopened Owosso Community Airport, aided in the recovery.
"My wife woke me up in a panicked state," said six-year pilot and Corunna resident Greg Cochran. "I drove out to see what was going on and I saw some emergency personnel turning into the airport."
Cochran said with the recent remodeling, tarmac lights to guide emergency helicopters were switched off.
"The first helicopter actually missed the airport because the lights weren't on," he said. "We were at the airport until 2 a.m."
Assisting the Corunna-Caledonia Fire Department on the scene were elements of the Shiawassee County Sheriff Department, Owosso Township Fire Department, Owosso Township Rescue MMR, Corunna Area Ambulance, Owosso City Ambulance, Durand-Vernon Area Ambulance, Shiawassee County Road Commission and two flight care helicopter ambulances.
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