WEST PARK, FLA. (WSVN) - Newly released 911 calls captured the tense moments following a house explosion in a West Park neighborhood that sent a family of four to the hospital and triggered an ongoing investigation into what caused the violent blast.
A driver who passed by the home right when it exploded along Southwest 20th Street, early Tuesday morning, was heard frantically talking to a dispatcher.
Caller: “I was driving, and my car got caught in a collision.”
Dispatcher: “OK, are you hurt? Are you hurt? Do you need paramedics?”
Caller: “I think I’m OK.”
Dispatcher: “All right. You physically saw it explode? Is there anyone inside the home?”
Caller: “Yes, yes, yes. Someone bleeding.”
Dispatcher: “There’s someone bleeding? Can they tell you if there’s anyone else inside the house?”
Caller: “Yes. There was a family inside the house.”
Video of the explosion showed a car traveling past the home when it exploded.
The explosion happened just after 12:30 a.m. at the house, located along the 5200 block of Southwest 20th Street.
On Thursday, 7News spoke with the owner of the home, who is also a family member, and the youngest victim who was injured in the blast.
Eight-year-old Rodinkski Belval was the only family member who has been released from the hospital.
“There was fire all over the place,” he said.
Belval said he remembers his mother taking him out of the house moments after the violent blast.
“My momma came inside and come take me out,” he said.
In addition to Belval, the injured family members were identified as 14-year-old Chouline Joseph; her mother, 39-year-old Rodeline Joseph; and 66-year-old grandmother Mercelle Ledix.
The three remain hospitalized as of Friday night.
Renes Ledix, the owner of the home said it’s incredible that anyone survived.
“When you look at the video – all the people are sending me the video, they’re telling me they can’t believe that in that situation the people are still alive,” he said.
Ledix said he’s grateful no one was killed, as neighbors came together to pray for the victims.
The intense home explosion was felt blocks away, and according to fire officials, gas likely played a role. But Ledix said gas wasn’t being used in the home.
“We don’t use gas in the house,” he said,.
7News requested and obtained a year’s worth of permits tied to the property. It’s clear a lot of work was done to the home.
In an initial read-through of the documents, 7News didn’t find any mention of gas.
The blast impacted the homes and cars of some neighbors as well.
On Friday, community leaders gathered to help out the shaken neighborhood. They delivered food boxes to help out.
“I feel like this is at least what I can do as a commissioner,” said a community leader.
It’s an especially tough holiday for the family who lived in the home that exploded, but many are thankful they survived.
“When you look at the video – all the people are sending me the video, they’re telling me they can’t believe that in that situation the people are still alive,” said Ledix.
The state fire marshal is continuing their investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion. They haven’t released information on how long it will take them to find that out.
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