An explosion at a home on a quiet New Jersey cul-de-sac Thursday night killed one man, injured a second person and forced the evacuation of neighbors, officials said.
Shocking footage shows a Middlesex County home nearly blown to pieces, smoke from a small fire and debris strewn across streets and neighboring yards.
Police said the explosion occurred at a home on Continental Court in South River just after 7 p.m.
Paramedics arrived and found two men with serious injuries, police said.
One of the victims, 62-year-old Kevin Gilbert, died at the scene shortly after paramedics arrived, and a second man was rushed to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, police said.
According to information, the explosion also damaged surrounding houses. MyCentralJersey.com.
South River Police asked area residents to avoid the area near Continental Court, Heritage Drive and the lower end of Leonardine Avenue during a public alert.
Police said there was no danger to the public and authorities were clearing the area for emergency vehicles and personnel.
a CBS News A helicopter showed fragments of the house spread in all directions after the explosion. A fallen basketball hoop was also found among the rubble.
The news station said workers were working to dig out some of the rubble to access gas lines. All gas lines in the neighborhood were shut off.
Police said authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion.
