Impaired Driver Crash Sparks Wilmington Gas Blast, Injuring Three Firefighters

A hit-and-run driver crashed into gas lines at the Eastern Carolina Veterinary Medical Center in Wilmington, North Carolina, shortly after 11:30 a.m. local time on 19 August, rupturing the pipes and triggering a powerful explosion that blew out the building’s roof and sent a plume of black smoke over the coastal city. Three Wilmington firefighters were hospitalised while searching the partly built clinic moments before the blast; two sustained non-life-threatening injuries, while a third suffered severe burns to the hands. Local media later reported a fourth firefighter with minor injuries. No civilians or animals were hurt because the facility, slated to open next month, was still under construction and had been evacuated. Police said the driver fled the scene but was quickly located and taken into custody. Investigators said the individual showed signs of impairment, and charges are pending. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is assisting Wilmington police and fire officials in determining the exact cause of the crash and assessing structural damage. Authorities closed parts of New Centre Drive for several hours while hazmat teams secured the ruptured gas line and firefighters extinguished residual flames. Residents were urged to avoid the area until the site was declared safe.