Bank employee killed in Youngstown explosion
Posted on 05/31/24 at 11:35
- Man killed in Youngstown explosion.
- Akil Drake was an employee of Chase Bank.
- The fire chief reported the news.
Man killed in Youngstown explosion! The death of a Chase Bank employee following a natural gas incident has been confirmed.
A massive explosion in downtown Youngstown destroyed much of the ground floor of the Realty Tower.
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The explosion, which occurred Tuesday afternoon, partially collapsed the building and sent debris across the street, was captured on security cameras.
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Man killed in Youngstown explosion is identified
A devastating explosion rocked downtown Youngstown Tuesday afternoon, destroying much of the ground floor of an apartment building.
It resulted in the death of a bank employee and several more injuries, according to The Associated Press.
The incident has left the community in shock and authorities searching for answers.
The explosion occurred around 2:45 p.m. at Realty Tower, a 13-story building that houses a Chase Bank branch on the street level and apartments on the upper floors.
Who was Akil Drake?
We are getting our first look at Akil Drake who tragically lost his life in yesterday’s explosion. His former high school tells me he excelled in school and on the football field. @WPXI pic.twitter.com/FXlUdWTjQP
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) May 29, 2024
Among the victims was Akil Drake, 27, an employee of Chase Bank, who had been seen inside the building shortly before the explosion.
After the collapse, firefighters and other emergency services conducted intense rescue efforts, working for several hours to ensure no one else was trapped in the debris.
Drake’s body was eventually found in the basement of the building, authorities stated.
Youngstown Fire Chief Barry Finley spoke about the incident: «We weren’t going to leave there until we found him. His family deserved closure.»
What happened to the other victims?
This is Akil Drake after he graduated from Youngstown State Univ in 2019. The former Penn Hills resident died in an explosion in Youngstown Tuesday. The blast shattered the facade of Realty Tower, which houses a Chase Bank where Drake worked, killing him & injuring 7 others @KDKA pic.twitter.com/eBAsVVfvJW
— Jennifer Borrasso (@JenBorrasso) May 29, 2024
Finley also had an update about a woman who was initially reported missing.
She was located at a hospital where, for unknown reasons, she had been registered under a different name.
In total, seven people were taken to Mercy Health Hospital in Youngstown.
This included a woman who remained in critical condition on Wednesday, according to the AP.
What caused the explosion?
A person died and at least 7 were injured as a result of an explosion that destroyed the ground floor of a building in #Ohio, #USA.
The deceased identified as Akil Drake, 29, was an employee of a bank branch… pic.twitter.com/jpOZMTwdNL
— Gamavision News (@gamavisionmx) May 29, 2024
The state fire chief’s office has taken over the investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion.
«We have no idea what caused the explosion. We know there was an explosion that caused a lot of damage to the lower part of the building,» said Finley on Tuesday.
The police and Mahoning County Emergency Management Agency continue to collaborate on the investigation.
The incident has had a significant impact on downtown Youngstown, Ohio a city with approximately 60,000 residents, according to the AP.
