NEW YORK – A grandmother and her two young grandchildren narrowly escaped a terrifying manhole explosion in Poughkeepsie on Sunday. Shocking footage captured the heart-stopping moment as they walked home from an Easter egg hunt. The explosion sent debris and concrete flying into the air, forcing them to run for safety.
Lisa Davis, the grandmother, recounted the harrowing experience, describing the moment as “I was like, ‘Oh my God,’ I didn’t know where to go.” In the video, she can be seen running with her 6-year-old grandson and pushing her younger grandchild in a stroller. The explosion narrowly missed them as they fled from the scene.
Emergency responders found high levels of gas in the craters left behind by the explosion. A chain reaction caused three manholes to explode in total. Despite the immediate danger, it was only upon viewing the footage that Davis fully realized how close they had come to tragedy. “I’m one foot away from losing my family,” she shared in shock.
Although Davis was shaken by the incident, her grandson expressed less fear, stating, “I’m kind of scared, but I wasn’t that scared.” The explosions have sparked concerns about safety, particularly in light of the challenges posed by aging infrastructure.
The incident in Poughkeepsie serves as a reminder of the potential risks associated with outdated infrastructure. As authorities investigate the cause of the explosion, residents are left to ponder the safety of their surroundings and the need for improvements to prevent such incidents in the future. The incident also highlights the importance of remaining vigilant and aware of potential hazards in our communities to ensure the safety of all residents.