An explosion at an Oak Forest apartment building apparently was the result of a suicide attempt and will leave residents homeless for at least a week, officials said.
Seven people were injured in Sunday afternoon’s natural gas blast at the Manchester Court apartments, 14730 S. Central Ave.
Six of the injured were treated and released at area hospitals, but Robert Wehr, 50, remained in critical condition Monday at the University of Chicago Hospitals.
Wehr sustained burns over 40 percent of his body, hospital officials said. A flexible gas line leading to the furnace in Wehr’s apartment was severed and gas filled the apartment and caused the explosion, Police Chief David Griffin said.
“Mr. Wehr apparently made that (suicide) comment to the paramedics as he was being placed in the helicopter,” Griffin said. “That’s why we’re looking forward to the opportunity to interview him.”
“Given all the reports, it appears he was trying to gas himself and, somehow, it ignited,” said Fire Chief Jim Berger.
Next-door neighbor John Cotter, 23, said he returned from a movie about 3:15 p.m. and noticed the smell of natural gas in the hallway.
He said he called the building manager, who went with him to Wehr’s apartment, where they heard a hissing sound. They knocked on the door and the hissing sound stopped after Wehr said, “hold on,” and the explosion occurred minutes later, Cotter added.
The blast caused balconies to collapse and blew out windows of the two-story, 36-unit building.
“There’s some structural damage, and we won’t let (residents) back in until we’re sure it’s safe,” Griffin said.
“Quite a bit has to be done,” Berger added. “We have to see the gas pipe isn’t damaged throughout the building. The electrical system is a problem.”
Officials from more than 10 area fire departments, as well as the American Red Cross and Salvation Army, assisted Oak Forest police and fire officials in fighting the fire, shoring up the building or helping residents.
