WILMINGTON, N.C. (BN24) — A veterinary hospital still under construction in Wilmington was destroyed Tuesday morning after a car struck a gas line, triggering a massive explosion that injured three firefighters, police said.
Authorities said the crash occurred about 20 minutes before the blast when a vehicle ran off the road and hit the gas meter feeding the new Eastern Carolina Veterinary Medical Center. Wilmington Police Department spokesperson Greg Willett said the driver fled the scene before officers arrived.
As firefighters evacuated the building and searched to ensure no one was inside, the structure suddenly exploded, Wilmington Fire Department spokesperson Rebekah Thurston said. Three firefighters were injured in the blast — two suffered non-life-threatening injuries while another sustained severe burns to his hands and arms. All were taken to the hospital.
No construction workers, veterinary staff, or animals were harmed, the hospital said in a statement on Facebook.
Police later located the vehicle and took the driver into custody. The suspect, who showed signs of impairment, is being evaluated by the North Carolina Highway Patrol, Willett said.
Officials said surrounding streets remain closed while investigators determine the full extent of the damage and what caused the ignition.
The Eastern Carolina Veterinary Referral hospital, which was scheduled to open in September, had planned to provide 24-hour emergency care for pets. The explosion has now left the future of the new facility in question.
