New Jersey, explosion scene described as nightmare

ELIZABETH, N.J. (WABC) — A survivor of a building explosion in New Jersey that left one person dead and 15 more injured describes the scene as nightmarish.

“I just went to sleep and woke up in a nightmare,” said Wayne Sheppard.
Sheppard was sleeping in a second-floor apartment on Magnolia Avenue in Elizabeth when the house next door suddenly exploded. His wife and 10-month old were also in the front of the home.

“They were in the living room she had just taken him out of his bedroom. His bedroom window is directly across from the house that exploded,” Sheppard said.

They were all able to stumble out through the rubble. Paramedics took them to Trinitas Regional Medical Center, along with three others.

Video courtesy of WABC-TV

A 33-year old suffered minor injuries, a 19-year old suffered trauma and an 8-year old girl was brought to the center later, doctors said.

“There were explosions laterally. (The 8-year-old girl) was two or three doors down and a mirror came off the wall and stuck her in the back. (She’s) going to be fine,” said Dr. John D’Angelo, the chairman of emergency medicine at the hospital.

Due to the large number of victims — 16 in all — D’Angelo had also rushed to the scene. He said one victim died there. Two more suffered serious burns. One person is still unaccounted for, according to fire officials.

“It’s difficult. We see trauma daily, but to see someone walk out of their home with severe burns was devastating for everybody,” D’Angelo said.