UPDATE 11:30 A.M., 7/5/15: Maryland State Police say there were a total of 13 people taken by ambulance to local hospitals after the explosion, including two children ages 12 and 14, who were transported to Children’s National Medical Center. The 12-year-old received burns to both legs and the teen was treated for an arm injury after jumping onto the pier. In addition, four adults and a 16-year-old were transported to Calvert Memorial Hospital and then to MedStar Washington Hospital for burn treatment. A 76-year-old man was transported to Calvert Memorial as well. Five adults and a 15-year-old male were transported directly to MedStar from the scene. All of the victims from the incident sustained non-life threatening injuries and are expected to fully recover.
Police said they believe the incident was a flash fire, occurring at 6:40 p.m., and was the result of a spark from electrical connections at the onboard bilge pump connecting with gas vapors still present in the engine compartment. It resulted in the injuries and an estimated $2,300 damage to the 38′ Carver Cabin Cruiser.
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Earlier:
WASHINGTON — Ten people were injured when a boat exploded in Calvert County, Maryland on Saturday.
It happened around 6 p.m. in the Spring Cove Marina on Solomons Island. The 38-foot cabin cruiser was fueling at the dock when an unknown source ignited the vessel, according to Maryland Natural Resources Police.
Four adults and one child were taken to Calvert Memorial Hospital. Five others — three adults and two children– were to taken to MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
No word on the extent of those injuries. However, A Fox 5 report said later that none of the injuries were life threatening.
The state fire marshal, along with police, will be on the scene throughout the night to investigate.
“It just puts a damper on things for a lot of people I’m sure,” said Candy Thomson of the Natural Resources Police of Maryland, told CBS news, adding that fueling up is more dangerous than people think. “This is definitely something that you definitely worry about on a Fourth of July weekend.”
She said “this is a big boating state,” and “boats are everywhere” during the summer. “For Maryland, this is our busiest weekend and this is the start of our deadliest month,” she added.
