Area man killed, local doctor injured in Florida explosion

Associated Press

A Southern Illinois man was killed and another injured in a weekend explosion at a Destin, Fla. vacation home.

Michael Todd Brower, 35, a resident of the Franklin-Williamson County area, was killed when a car exploded Saturday night, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Department.

A second man, 58-year-old Luis Lopez, who is listed as a physician at the Heartland Pediatric Clinic in Marion, was seriously in-jured in the explosion. Lopez was listed in critical condition at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Fla. as of Sunday night.

Emergency crews responded to the residence, located at 704 Harbor Lane in Destin, just after 7 p.m. Saturday after receiving calls of a loud explosion and fire, the sheriff’s office reports.

Officials from the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office said Sunday the explosion was accidental, and there is no indication of foul play.

The explosion appears to have been a “freak and tragic accident,” said Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley.

Investigators are focusing on acetylene torches that were rented to do work on the house, according to the Northwest Florida Daily News.

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