A large gas explosion late in the afternoon yesterday rocked downtown Canton in Fulton County, killing an Ameren, Illinois worker, injuring a now reported 12 others and causing destruction to buildings near the city’s square.
Among those affected today is former United Way of Knox County Executive Director Ann Tucker-Lockhart.
Tucker-Lockhart now runs United Way in Fulton County and she tells Galesburg’s Morning News on WGIL her office is believed to be right near the core of where the explosion took place.
“My office is called the Opera House which is right there on the square in Canton, “Tucker-Lockhart says. “The back entrance that I usually go through every day, there is another part of the building that kind of jets out the back from the back of my building to First Avenue. From what I’m seeing and what I’m hearing, that back part of the building is completely decimated. There’s nothing left.”
Tucker-Lockhart says she was extremely fortunate to have been home at the time of the explosion.
She doesn’t believe any of her co-workers were injured, but it’s not clear when or if United Way as well as other businesses near the square would be able to work out of their buildings once again.
Canton businesses will remained closed today.
