Last updated: Thursday July 17, 2008, EDT 10:34 PM
Click here for a PHOTO GALLERY from the scene.
Police have identified a body recovered from a Teaneck house flattened by a massive explosion this evening as 66-year-old Richard Haas.
Hastings Street neighbors reported hearing and feeling the explosion from blocks away.
"It was deafening," said Millie Leben, who lives around the corner. "It sounded like a bomb."
"My whole house lifted up," said neighbor Meryl Arbisfeld. "I thought there was a bomb in my house. There was a bang, and I started screaming and ran out of the house."
The force of the blast blew the house’s front door across the street onto a neighbor’s property. Doug Lehman, who lives nearly a mile away, said his doors and windows shook.
Doris Bodin said the two were out for a walk along Hastings just before 6:20 p.m. when the blast occurred. She said she got a phone call moments later from the two men, who said they were hurt by flying glass and debris.
Residents of the quiet block have been complaining about a gas smell off and on for a couple of weeks, said next-door neighbor Banji Ganchrow. It seemed to be coming from the house that exploded, she said.
A PSE&G work crew was out checking homes on Hastings Street earlier this afternoon and told her everything seemed fine, Ganchrow said.
PSE&G spokesman Ed Sullivan said the cause of the explosion wasn't clear. He also said he didn't know whether a work crew had visited earlier in the day and hadn't heard of any complaints about gas odors in the area.
Abie Cohen, a Hastings Street neighbor, said he smelled gas coming from the corner where the house was when he walked to prayer services on Saturday.Cohen’s lawn is covered in ash. Nestled in his bushes is a burnt piece of paper from a copy of the Torah bearing a Yom Kippur prayer – apparently blown from the blast.
Running outside after hearing the blast, Cohen said he saw a dazed neighbor, blood trickling down his ear and leg.
The house “had crumpled into itself, and flames were shooting everywhere.”
Mayor Kevie Feit, who lives a couple of blocks away, said he ran to the house to find nothing but flaming rubble.
The only part of the Tudor-style house left standing is part of a brick wall.
Three other houses caught fire, but the flames were quickly extinguished. Police have moved people from the area as a precaution.
Hass had moved into the home to care for his parents, who died a couple of years ago, said Ganchrow.
"He doesn’t have any kids, he doesn’t have anybody," she said, although she said he owns several cats. He also has a vegetable garden, gives out vegetables to people on the street, and often takes bicycle rides, neighbors said.
Police had tried calling Haas's cellphone several times after the explosion. Attempts to reach relatives also failed.
House on the far left exploded.
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Click here for a PHOTO GALLERY from the scene.
Police have identified a body recovered from a Teaneck house flattened by a massive explosion this evening as 66-year-old Richard Haas.
Hastings Street neighbors reported hearing and feeling the explosion from blocks away.
"It was deafening," said Millie Leben, who lives around the corner. "It sounded like a bomb."
"My whole house lifted up," said neighbor Meryl Arbisfeld. "I thought there was a bomb in my house. There was a bang, and I started screaming and ran out of the house."
The force of the blast blew the house’s front door across the street onto a neighbor’s property. Doug Lehman, who lives nearly a mile away, said his doors and windows shook.
Two men were taken to Holy Name Hospital: Milton Bodin, who lives with his wife, Doris, a few doors away, and his son, Michael, who is visiting from Arizona.
Doris Bodin said the two were out for a walk along Hastings just before 6:20 p.m. when the blast occurred. She said she got a phone call moments later from the two men, who said they were hurt by flying glass and debris.
Residents of the quiet block have been complaining about a gas smell off and on for a couple of weeks, said next-door neighbor Banji Ganchrow. It seemed to be coming from the house that exploded, she said.
A PSE&G work crew was out checking homes on Hastings Street earlier this afternoon and told her everything seemed fine, Ganchrow said.
PSE&G spokesman Ed Sullivan said the cause of the explosion wasn't clear. He also said he didn't know whether a work crew had visited earlier in the day and hadn't heard of any complaints about gas odors in the area.
Abie Cohen, a Hastings Street neighbor, said he smelled gas coming from the corner where the house was when he walked to prayer services on Saturday.
Cohen’s lawn is covered in ash. Nestled in his bushes is a burnt piece of paper from a copy of the Torah bearing a Yom Kippur prayer – apparently blown from the blast.
Running outside after hearing the blast, Cohen said he saw a dazed neighbor, blood trickling down his ear and leg.
The house “had crumpled into itself, and flames were shooting everywhere.”
Mayor Kevie Feit, who lives a couple of blocks away, said he ran to the house to find nothing but flaming rubble.
The only part of the Tudor-style house left standing is part of a brick wall.
Three other houses caught fire, but the flames were quickly extinguished. Police have moved people from the area as a precaution.
Hass had moved into the home to care for his parents, who died a couple of years ago, said Ganchrow.
"He doesn’t have any kids, he doesn’t have anybody," she said, although she said he owns several cats. He also has a vegetable garden, gives out vegetables to people on the street, and often takes bicycle rides, neighbors said.
Police had tried calling Haas's cellphone several times after the explosion. Attempts to reach relatives also failed.
House on the far left exploded.
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