Grandparents, infant grandchild killed in S.D. home explosion
Three people were killed Wednesday in South Dakota in a house explosion.
The incident occurred around 10:20 a.m. at a home near rural Fort Pierre. Neighbors heard the explosion and called 911. The home was completely leveled in the blast, according Stanley County Sheriff Brad Rathbun.
According to a GoFundMe page created for the family, Bill and LaDonna Hupp and their infant granddaughter, Harper Hupp, were killed in the blast. Sheriff Rathbun said 6-month-old Harper and LaDonna Hupp, 61, died at the scene. Bill Hupp, 66, died at a hospital. Their grandsons — Myles, 5, and Royce, 3 — who were also in the home at the time of the blast, were airlifted to a burn unit in Minnesota.
The children’s parents, Trevor and Kelsey Hupp, were at work when the explosion occurred.
On Thursday, Kelsey Hupp provided an update on her two sons on the medical journaling website Caring Bridge.
Royce suffered third-degree burns on 36% of his body, but is expected to recover without needing skin grafts. Myles’ burns are superficial, but both children are sedated and using breathing tubes.
“Again thank you to everyone,” Kelsey wrote. “This would not be possible without every single one of you. We are in awe of the support and love we have received.”
The South Dakota State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Division of Criminal Investigation are investigating the blast.
With News Wire Services