North Carolina man arrested following gas explosion
UPDATE (2:26 PM): The suspect who was charged in connection with a gas explosion in Wilmington, North Carolina had his first court appearance Wednesday.
Tech issues prevented Jason Lee Beach, 46, from appearing on video, but that didn't prevent the judge from reading his charges over the phone.
Charges include DWI-felony serious injury, possession of drug paraphernalia, hit and run, reckless driving and failure to maintain lane.
Authorities say Beach, who may have been impaired at the time, was driving a vehicle that hit a building and ruptured a gas line causing an explosion.
Chief Steve Mason with the Wilmington Fire Department (WFD) and several other officials held a press conference later that day, updating the number of injured responders to five, one of which received severe burns to both hands.
All of the injured are expected to be okay.
"From what I saw, what I heard yesterday, monitoring the radio and the entire situation, the reports that I was getting back, the comments that came from our partnering agencies, I believe that this organization and this Community handle that situation extremely well," Chief Mason expressed.
Officials also said the ignition of the fire could have started from anything.
"Any number of ignition, short sources inside the building. It could have been HVAC unit with the building pressurized like that, with gas, with the natural gas. It's something as simple as a light switch, any kind of spark, any kind of electrical charge, could have united," said Fire Marshall Chris Walker with WFD.
WILMINGTON, N.C. (NBC, KYMA/KECY) - A suspect is in custody following a gas explosion in Wilmington, North Carolina Tuesday.
Authorities say 46-year-old Jason Lee Beach of Wilmington has been charged with DWI-felony serious injury, possession of drug paraphernalia, hit and run, reckless driving and failure to maintain lane.
They say that a car hit the Eastern Carolina Veterinary Referral building on New Centre Drive and ruptured a gas line at around 11:30 a.m. Eastern. Minutes later, the building exploded.
According to arrests warrants, Beach seriously injured one person's head and hands, causing broken bones.
Four firefighters were injured while battling the fire.
Police believe beach may have been impaired during the time of the incident.
Beach is making his first court appearance Wednesday. To watch the livestream of it, see attached video.
