Federal investigators assist at West Hurley house explosion scene
A Hurley town official said Ralph Brueckner's brother, who lives next door, saw the roof blow off the house, reaching above the tree line.
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Federal investigators are now assisting state police at the scene of a house explosion in the hamlet of West Hurley that killed a man and woman.
Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New York State Bureau of Investigation were helping process the explosion scene on Brueckner Lane off Route 28A.
The victims — Ralph Brueckner, 75, who lived at the home and Cheryl Hathaway, 58, of Poughkeepsie — had many friends and an well-known legacy.
Steve Szymanski, owner of Steve's Pizzeria and Deli, knew the Brueckners well.
"What a great family," he said. "They come here all the time. The family are very great people. Very sad to see something like this happen to the family and the local community."
New York State police have not yet shared the cause of the explosion.
A reliable source told News 12 Thursday, however, the blast was likely not caused by a gas line rupture because gas lines do not run through this rural part of Ulster County south of the Ashokan Reservoir.
They say most residents use propane.
Neighbors recall hearing the explosion at about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.
A Hurley town official said Ralph Brueckner's brother, who lives next door, saw the roof blow off the house and above the tree line.
Most residents at local shops and grocery stores were familiar with the family's history in the community and knew that Brueckner Lane was named for the family by a family member who wanted the family to live close together.
Annie Allen — a former classmate of one of the Brueckners — did not think much of the giant boom sound at first because there are construction projects happening in the area.
She became worried once she spoke to her mother on the phone.
"She thought it was just another excavator or machine, and then she realized that something had exploded on Brueckner Lane," Allen said, "and then she was concerned because we all know the family."
It is still unclear what Brueckner and Hathaway were doing just before the explosion.
Criminal investigators are on scene, but police have not said anything to indicate the explosion could be suspicious.
Wednesday coverage
