Elderly couple dies in house explosion in South beaver pic.twitter.com/Y2OexvO3Nn
— Lucy Schaly (@LucySchaly) July 15, 2014
A married couple died in their Pennsylvania home after it exploded early Tuesday morning.
Ray, 74, and Janet Trautvetter, 69, died in their home after it exploded just after 4 a.m. on July 15. Debris from the explosion landed up to a quarter mile away from the home. It’s believed the explosion set off ammunition inside the home.
This is a breaking story. Stay tuned for updates.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. The Blast Was Heard Several Miles Away
This is what's left after a house explosion killed two people in South Beaver Twp this morning. More @ noon on #WPXI pic.twitter.com/bo4IvNpA2y
— John Klocko (@johnklocko) July 15, 2014
South Beaver Police Chief Dan McLean told CBS Pittsburgh the department received multiple calls because of the volume of the explosion, saying it was heard several miles away.
2. The House Went up in Flames
Picture of house explosion in South Beaver that killed two people. #wpxi pic.twitter.com/h4TspKYb7p
— Dave Bondy (@WPXI_DaveBondy) July 15, 2014
Peter Sergi, the couple’s neighbor, told the Beaver County Times thought lightning had hit the house upon hearing the explosion. When he smelled smoke, he and his son ran up the street to discover the Trautvetter’s home engulfed in flames. The fire reached the trees above the home, but quickly died down.
3. The Explosion Was Most Likely ‘Gas Related’
Panoramic view of aftermath following house explosion on Louthan Rd in South Beaver. Homeowners were sleeping. #WPXI pic.twitter.com/rqUsOG97O8
— Brandon Hudson (@WPXI_Brandon) July 15, 2014
Cops told WTAE the explosion “probably is going to be gas-related.” The home used propane as fuel. A state fire marshal is investigating the cause of the explosion at this time, according to CBS Pittsburgh.
4. Janet Trautvetter Ran a Catering Business out of her Home
This is the home at address 419 Louthan Road, which is listed by the Beaver County Times as Ray and Janet Trautvetter’s home. (Google Maps)
According to the Beaver County Times, Janet operated her catering company, Janet’s Catering, out of their home. She started the business in 1986. Ray Trautvetter used to work at Babcock & Wilcox Co. steel plant, the Beaver County Times reports.
5. Autopsies Were Scheduled for Later Tuesday
#Breaking News: Sky 4 shot of a house explosion in South Beaver Township killing a man and a woman. @wtae pic.twitter.com/h7xQrGrvgV
— Janelle Hall (@JanelleHallWTAE) July 15, 2014
According to WTAE, autopsies on the Trautvetter’s bodies were scheduled for later Tuesday.