x
Breaking News
More () »

WATCH | Video shows people escaping Youngstown building before deadly explosion

One person was killed and seven people hospitalized as a result of the explosion that took place in downtown Youngstown at around 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — New surveillance video has emerged from inside a downtown Youngstown building that shows people escaping just prior to the deadly explosion that happened on Tuesday.

The video, shared with 3News courtesy of Ahisa Simmons, starts with a fire alarm in the Realty Tower. As the announcement is heard in the building, a mother and her baby are seen walking out an exit. Another person also departs through an exit.  

Then, a jarring explosion near the floor's elevator is seen. A Youngstown firefighter is then seen checking out the aftermath of the blast. 

SUBSCRIBE: Get the day's top headlines sent to your inbox each weekday morning with the free 3News to GO! newsletter

One person was killed and seven people hospitalized as a result of the explosion that took place at around 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday. The blast shook the downtown Youngstown area as bricks, glass and other debris littered the sidewalk.

The body of 27-year-old Chase Bank employee Akil Drake was recovered in the early morning hours of Wednesday.

The explosion is currently being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). While no exact cause for the explosion has been determined, investigators are focusing on an abandoned gas line in the basement of the building that had been cut, yet was found to still be pressurized with gas. 

Previous Reporting:

Want to be among the first to know the most important local and national news? The latest sports updates? We've got you covered! You can download the free WKYC app and get the latest updates sent to your phone: Android, Apple.

Before You Leave, Check This Out