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The cause of the explosion on Academy Street in Poughkeepsie over the weekend has been identified as an electrical fault on an underground cable. The incident, which occurred on Saturday (April 19), was captured on video, showing a woman and her grandson narrowly escaping harm. The explosion resulted in high levels of carbon monoxide, leading to temporary evacuations of nearby buildings.
City Administrator Joseph Donat confirmed that the explosion was due to an electrical fault and not related to the natural gas distribution system. According to the Times Union, Donat praised the swift response of the city's police, fire, and building departments, stating it was "an all-hands-on-deck incident" with no reported injuries.
Central Hudson Gas & Electric, the company responsible for the cable, is currently reviewing the affected section to determine the exact cause of the fault. Central Hudson's Director of Corporate Communications, Réal Hamilton-Romeo, told Mid-Hudson News that while such electrical faults are not uncommon, they can pose risks of damage or injury.
The woman involved, Lisa Davis, expressed her fear and confusion during the incident, telling the New York Post "I didn’t know what to do except grab my grandson and run." The city fire department, which posted the surveillance footage on Facebook, described the eruptions as manhole explosions, although no manhole was visible in the video.
Davis has since met with a personal injury attorney to explore her options. The investigation into the cause of the explosion continues, with Central Hudson examining the power line for any further issues.