Navy Veteran Dies in Tragic Garage Explosion and Fire

A man was killed on Saturday, April 7, 2018, in an explosion and fire at his home in the 100 block of Quaker Drive in the Nixonton community in Pasquotank County, North Carolina.  He was a retired Navy Master Chief.

Authorities say there was a gas buildup in the garage. The explosion occurred when he opened the garage door. He was carrying a candle at the time.

The explosion blew off the roof of the garage. It also melted siding, broke windows, and damaged his home. No one else was injured, even though his wife was home at the time.

The man, a veteran of the Vietnam War, served in the Navy from 1962 to 1992. Friends of the family told the Daily Advance that he and his wife were getting ready for family members who were visiting from out of town. They were getting ready to cook when the explosion occurred.

A candle or spark can easily ignite a buildup of gas. Authorities do not yet know the source of the gas leak. An investigator from the State Bureau of Investigation is examining the site to gather evidence and piece together the details that led up to the tragic accident.

While the investigator is called an “arson investigator,” foul play is not suspected.