O&R PRESS RELEASE

As part of its investigation into Monday’s explosion at Nyack College, O&R used an industrial vacuum truck to uncover a section of gas service pipe from an area that appeared to have been recently excavated.

A visual examination of the service pipe revealed damage consistent with the pipe being struck and pulled by heavy mechanical equipment, such as a backhoe. The damaged section of pipe was recovered by O&R and turned over to the investigating authorities.

ORU is cooperating fully with the authorities in their investigation into the cause of the blast.

Damage to that gas service line that feeds a Nyack College gym from a gas main on South Highland Drive is the primary focus of O&R’s investigation in the wake of a Monday’s blast that injured eight and heavily damaged a Nyack College building.

Late Monday night, O&R found evidence of recent excavation and heavy equipment work on the ground over the top of the service pipe’s location and, joined by local authorities, pursued that line of inquiry.

Prior to that discovery, O&R had performed a number of tests, including pressure tests and visual examinations, on the gas mains and services on South Highland. The pressure tests led O&R crews to concentrate on the service connection at this location. Further, investigation revealed that the steel service pipe had pulled free of its connection to the gas main.