KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City, Mo., police have released the Bomb and Arson report related to the Feb. 19th explosion at JJ’s Restaurant. In it are witness statements describing exactly what led up to the deadly event.
Contractors digging a hole in the ground to install fiber optic cable hit a gas line an hour and a half earlier. Firefighters were called and, according to the reports, the captain went into JJ’s and smelled gas. He asked restaurant staff to put out all the candles and pilot lights. The captain then told investigators that Missouri Gas and Energy officials were waiting on some equipment to arrive from Raymore, but had it under control, so firefighters left.
At that exact same time — and 45 minutes before the explosion — an MGE worker went into JJ’s and told them the gas levels were dangerous.
The report reads in part:
“The MGE employee told them that they needed to leave. He stated that…they were calling people to cancel their reservations. He stated that the MGE employee did not make it sound that it was urgent…”
Several employees were still in the restaurant when the explosion occurred.
One survivor told police he was standing at the bar with Megan Cramer when the roof fell on top of them. His statement in the report reads:
“Everything became pitch black, blood was everywhere and something heavy was on top of him. He managed to free himself by pushing the stuff off of him and there was only one way out. As he was crawling out, he heard Megan (Cramer) asking for help.”
Fifteen people were hurt, including several MGE workers. As for one of the workers, investigators said:
“…the explosion knocked him unconscious and to the ground. When he came to, he moved his truck, then drove home. He thought about going back and checking on his coworkers, but the police had the roads blocked.”
The Public Service Commission said on Wednesday it’s not ready to release its report, but they will update the status of their investigation again next month.
