Gas line explosion in Coolidge leaves 2 people dead, 1 woman airlifted
Aug 15, 2021, 2:30 PM | Updated: 6:11 pm
(Public domain photo)
(Public domain photo)
PHOENIX — A gas line explosion south of Coolidge left two people dead and one person severely burned, causing officials to shut off a valve in Tucson.
The explosion was said to be from a pipeline managed by Kinder-Morgan on Sunday, causing multiple departments to respond to the site, according to city manager Rick Miller.
The two people dead were found in a home across the street from where the explosion occurred.
“There was one victim walking north of a farm house with severe burns and was picked up by a sheriff’s deputy,” Miller said.
Miller said she was flown to the Maricopa County Burn Center to treat her injuries.
She was later identified as Rosalina Alvarez.
Police found two people in the home, believed to be Luis Alvarez and his 14-year-old daughter Valeria.
Authorities were unable to confirm the identities of the deceased victims.
The pipeline was part of the El Paso Natural Gas Company system near Randolph Road and Highway 87.
“Reports came in about 5:30 this morning about a gas line explosion south of the downtown area,” Miller said.
Kinder-Morgan said that no employees were injured in the blast.
“The fire is out. It’s contained. They shut the valve off near Tucson and it was a pretty serious incident this morning for everyone involved,” Miller said.
