SOUTH RIVER – One person was killed and another seriously injured in a house explosion that rocked a borough neighborhood Thursday evening.
Borough resident Kevin Gilbert, 62, was found with life-threatening injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a statement from Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and South River Police Chief , Mark Tinitigan.
A second man was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital for treatment, authorities said.
More:‘Like an earthquake but more intense’: South River neighbors describe house explosion
Mayor Peter Guindi earlier said in a news conference that two people had died, but later corrected his statement.
At approximately 7:03 p.m., authorities responded to a residence in Continental Court near Leonardine Avenue following a report of an explosion.
When they arrived, they located the two men, who had been seriously injured by the explosion, authorities said.
South River Fire Chief Craig Miller said when he arrived the house appeared to be completely flattened. There was a lot of debris on the roadway and nearby lawns, he said.
Neighbors were evacuated safely, Miller said.
The fire was extinguished, but firefighters remained on scene Thursday evening.
The mayor said that when he arrived on scene, the house was “flattened.”
“It was a horrible scene,” he said. “Windows of houses and cars nearby were blown out. Garage doors were kicked in. We didn’t know if anyone was in the house. All the houses were evacuated as soon as we arrived.”
Police have asked all motorists and pedestrians to avoid the area of Continental Court, Heritage Drive and the lower end of Leonardine Avenue so that the area is clear for vehicles and emergency crews accessing the scene.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, he said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Patrick Molina of the South River Police at 732-238-1000 or Detective Matthew Colonna of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-3354.
This is the second explosion in Middlesex County in consecutive days.
A 73-year-old South River woman was killed and four others injured Wednesday in an explosion at a commercial building in Old Bridge.
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Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com. To gain unlimited access to his work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
