Monticello Live

A camper trailer being used as a deer camp near Rye in Cleveland County, exploded around 8:30 pm, Friday night.

Cleveland County Sheriff’s Deputies, Game & Fish Officers, and firefighters from Rye, Panzy, and Woodlawn were called to the explosion site, which was located on Neely Loop, off of HWYs 35 and 63.

An eldery couple , from the Sulfur Springs community in Jefferson County were injured.

The husband was standing in the front of the trailer and received severe burns. He was taken by ambulance to Arkansas Childrens Hospital burn center. He remains and critical, but stable condition.

The wife had gone to bed in the back of the camper, before the explosion. She is being treated at Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff.

The camper was located just a few yards behind the couple’s son-in-law’s trailer, during the hunt.

After the explosion, which was believed to be caused by a gas leak inside of the trailer, pieces of the trailer were scattered from 100 to 200 feet away, as well as in nearby trees.

A nearby neighbor from across the road described the explosion is the loudest sound that ever heard. He called 911 as the son-in-law helped the injured couple out of the burning remains of the trailer.

Nearby structures also sustained major damage, such as a storage shed’s roof that was lifted off by the pressure of the explosion.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 12th, 2013 at 6:45 am and is filed under Fire, Police /Legal, Video. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.