VERO BEACH — Investigators continue to look into the cause of the explosion and fire at the Sandpiper Lane apartment complex that sent three people to the hospital, two with serious burn injuries.Fire Rescue Chief Brian Nolan said Friday he was expecting the report possibly as early as this weekend. The Thursday night explosion and subsequent fire at the Sun and Sand apartments happened after a couple in one apartment asked a friend to come over and help them light their gas stove. Investigators are reviewing at least two scenarios – one where the gas stove in unit number 6 would not light and instead sparked an explosion, and another where the gas line was leaking, causing the explosion.The injured include John DiMarco, who works at the nearby Maison Martinque, and was flown to Orlando Regional Medical Center with burns on 50 to 80 percent of his body. Hospital officials would not give out any information on his condition, but a colleague at the restaurant said he believed his friend was in a coma.Also flown to Orlando Medical Center was 30-year-old Luciano Coto, reportedly with second degree burns to her upper body. She lived in the apartment with her husband, 29-year-old Justin Ryan Hamilton who was said to have received shrapnel injuries and was treated and released from Indian River Medical Center.Residents of the complex, which is made up of eight one story units, four in one building and four in another, said the whole complex had run out of propane on Tuesday. By Wednesday morning, a company had come to fill the underground tanks, they said.They were told Friday all the units were uninhabitable and they needed to make other living arrangements. The complex housed some Maison Martinique staff and they were provided lodging at the nearby Caribbean Court Boutique Hotel.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
