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09/22/2017 12:00 AMA Sept. 21 explosion at the Evergreen Park Complex located on Killingworth Turnpike in Clinton has turned fatal, according to a statement released by the Clinton Police Department.
Leo Hinkley succumbed on Friday, Sept. 22 to injuries sustained in the incident that destroyed the mobile home in the early hours of Sept. 21. His wife, Candace Hinkley, remains in serious condition at Bridgeport Hospital where she was airlifted with "severe burns and traumatic injuries."
Around 12:30 a.m. on Sept. 21, people as far away as Branford reported hearing a loud bang like a thunder clap. According to the Clinton Police Department, calls began pouring in with reports of homes being shaken by the blast. Shortly after, at 12:34 a.m., a caller reported a fire at the mobile home complex.
Responders to the park found a mobile home leveled by a blast. Leo and Candace Hinkley were pulled from the burning wreckage by members of the Clinton Volunteer Fire Department and Police Department. Killingworth, Madison, and Old Saybrook responders assisted on the scene.
"The first officers went in to secure and retrieved people in the burning wreckage," said Clinton Police Sergeant Jeremiah Dunn. "It was extremely heroic."
Clinton Police officers Nicholas Torino and Gregory Matakaetis were the first to respond, along with Mike Jenkins of the Clinton Fire Department.
According to Dunn, officers arrived on the scene to find that the residents were "trapped under the rubble," and even though they lacked some of the protective gear usually issued in these types of scenarios, the officers entered the rubble to retrieve the residents.
The investigation into the cause of the explosion remains active.
"We're still at the scene sifting through the wreckage," Dunn said.
Initial reports indicated that the explosion was caused by a propane cylinder. According to the Clinton Police Department, however, investigators have definitively determined that the explosion was not caused by a propane cylinder exploding either inside or outside the residence.
"We can assure the public the tank did not blow up," said Clinton Fire Chief Brian Manware.
The local fire marshal recommends that anyone who has reason to believe his or her propane tanks and or appliances are not operating correctly to immediately vacate the area in question and contact 911 and your propane service provider immediately.
The Connecticut state fire marshal, Clinton fire marshal, and the Clinton police are conducting a joint investigation into the origin and cause of the fire and explosion. Dunn said it could be hard to predict how long these investigations take, as it could be days or weeks. He described the investigation as "methodical, and very involved" and noted that the propane company haf been to the scene and said they offered "vital input."
Eric O'Connell contributed to this report.