Wednesday, February 27 2013 11:09 PM EST2013-02-28 04:09:56 GMT
A deadly house explosion rocked Royal Oak and several surrounding communities Wednesday evening. We've learned a 58-year-old man was killed in the blast.
A deadly house explosion rocked Royal Oak and several surrounding communities Wednesday evening. We've learned a 58-year-old man was killed in the blast.
ROYAL OAK, Mich. (WJBK) -
A gas explosion in Royal Oak leveled a home last week. Now we're being told the destruction and devastation could have been worse.
"Whether or not this was just a case of ordinary negligence or was it more that just ordinary negligence?" said Stuart Sklar.
The attorney representing the family of Dan Malczynski, who died in the explosion, is working to find out how something like this could've happened.
Almost immediately, Consumers Energy took responsibility for damaging the service line to the house.
"When it was being directionally bored underneath the ground somehow nicked the service line," spokesperson Debra Dodd said last week.
However, a photo shows more like a gouge nearly two inches long.
Consumers Energy crews had been working all week on replacing the gas main on Cooper Avenue with something called horizontal directional drilling, a bore that maneuvers underground.
"How are they doing this drilling? What plans were they following? What precautions did they take? Did they do what they were supposed to have been doing? Those are really the questions that we have to answer to find out how this tragedy happened, and I'm telling you that they came within an inch of this horrible tragedy being much worse," Sklar said.
The preliminary investigation revealed something shocking. Not only did crews damage the service line in front of Malczynski's house. Sklar, who has photo evidence, claims workers that week using the same equipment came within an inch of puncturing the line in front of Laura Kelley's house a few doors down. She was home with her two children at the time.
Consumers Energy with the Public Service Commission is launching their own investigation. Did the three men working on the line follow the proper protocols?
"At the end of the day, we want to know what happened so it doesn't happen again," said Sklar.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 9:02 AM EDT2013-06-18 13:02:29 GMT
The FBI and local police have teamed up hoping to solve a 38-year-old murder mystery. They are searching an Oakland Township field looking for Jimmy Hoffa.
The FBI and local police have teamed up hoping to solve a 38-year-old murder mystery. They are searching an Oakland Township field looking for Jimmy Hoffa.
Wednesday, June 12 2013 11:26 PM EDT2013-06-13 03:26:44 GMT
Less than 24 hours after a judge bounced Detroit mayoral candidate Mike Duggan from the ballot saying he didn't meet the City Charter's residency requirements, a negative political ad hit the air.
Less than 24 hours after a judge bounced Detroit mayoral candidate Mike Duggan from the ballot saying he didn't meet the City Charter's residency requirements and around the same time Duggan vowed to appeal, a negative political ad hit the air.
Wednesday, June 12 2013 8:49 AM EDT2013-06-12 12:49:07 GMT
This could be a game changer for Detroit's mayoral election. Mike Duggan was yanked from the ballot after a judge said he was not a registered voter in the city for a year before he filed his nominating petitions
This could be a game changer for Detroit's mayoral election. Mike Duggan, who was considered a front runner, was yanked from the ballot after a judge said he was not a registered voter in the city for a year before he filed his nominating petitions. He fell just 14 days short.
Tuesday, June 11 2013 10:38 AM EDT2013-06-11 14:38:08 GMT
It was late last week after the last day of school when parents received an unexpected letter in their email that reads more like more soap opera than something from a school district.
It was late last week after the last day of school when parents received an unexpected letter in their email that reads more like more soap opera than something from a school district.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 11:38 PM EDT2013-06-19 03:38:44 GMT
After initially defying federal regulators, Chrysler abruptly agreed Tuesday to recall some older-model Jeeps with fuel tanks that could rupture and cause fires in rear-end collisions.
After initially defying federal regulators, Chrysler abruptly agreed Tuesday to recall some older-model Jeeps with fuel tanks that could rupture and cause fires in rear-end collisions.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 11:29 PM EDT2013-06-19 03:29:11 GMT
An angry pastor is trying to keep his cool. He is mad at whoever tore apart his air conditioning unit to steal the copper, but he also says the entire community shares the blame.
An angry pastor is trying to keep his cool. He is mad at whoever tore apart his air conditioning unit to steal the copper, but he also says the entire community shares the blame.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 9:46 PM EDT2013-06-19 01:46:58 GMT
Nearly a hundred years ago, two girls from Detroit put a message in a bottle and threw it into the waters of the St. Clair River. Now that message is back on dry land after being found by a diver in 30 feet of water.
Nearly a hundred years ago, two girls from Detroit put a message in a bottle and threw it into the waters of the St. Clair River. Now that message is back on dry land after being found by a diver in 30 feet of water.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 7:26 PM EDT2013-06-18 23:26:33 GMT
The latest dig in the search for former Teamsters' boss Jimmy Hoffa will resume on Wednesday in an Oakland Township field. So far, crews have found two concrete slabs and animal bones.
The latest dig in the search for former Teamsters' boss Jimmy Hoffa will resume on Wednesday in an Oakland Township field. So far, crews have found two concrete slabs and animal bones.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 4:54 PM EDT2013-06-18 20:54:19 GMT
Who will open for Bon Jovi at Ford Field on July 18? Your vote will decide. 20 bands left in the Fox Rocks contest. Voting period: Now through July 10. Time to 'Fox Rocks' the vote.
Who will open for Bon Jovi at Ford Field on July 18? Your vote will decide. 20 bands left in the Fox Rocks contest. Voting period: Now through July 10. Time to 'Fox Rocks' the vote.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 12:20 PM EDT2013-06-18 16:20:44 GMT
Detroit Metropolitan Airport officials evacuated a section of the McNamara Terminal Tuesday morning after a canine picked up the scent of explosives on the apron, where planes load.
Detroit Metropolitan Airport officials evacuated a section of the McNamara Terminal Tuesday morning after a canine picked up the scent of explosives on the apron, where planes load.
This photo shows the damaged gas line to Dan Malczynski's home in Royal Oak.
