Man hurt in Bonita explosion

This story appeared on the front of the Local & State section. I got the call to come out to the scene within minutes of the explosion. I was the first reporter there and got pictures of the truck being doused with water. By the time the media was asked to stand behind the yellow tape, I had the story, the pictures and dictated the story to my editor over the phone. I later arrived at the office and put a complete story online. Also an online picture gallery was created to support the story.








A propane truck explosion occured Wednesday, June 20, 2007 at the Dixie Moon Cafe in Bonita Springs. One person was injured in the explosion.

An explosion at the Dixie Moon Cafe in Bonita Springs sent one person to the hospital Wednesday.

Daniel Velez was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital, according to hospital officials. As of late Wednesday, Velez was in critical condition and was in the burn unit.

Firefighters received the call at 2:15 p.m. about an explosion at the restaurant at the corner of Dean Street and Old 41 Road in Bonita Springs, said Bonita Springs Fire Department Public Information Officer Debbi Redfield.

When firefighters arrived they found that the driver of a propane truck belonging to LB's Gas of Bonita Springs had been filling a tank behind the cafe when a leak near the nozzle apparently caused a fire, Redfield said.

The explosion is the second problem to occur at the restaurant in recent months.

Last September, Dixie Moon Cafe waitress Karen Tate accidentally crashed her car into the historic 80-year-old building. The restaurant reopened Nov. 3.

The string of bad luck continued Wednesday with what Dixie Moon Cafe waitress Lora Reece called "a few booms."

Reece said that, although she didn't see much at the time of the explosion, a kitchen worker heard something banging on the door and "when the door opened, she saw fire and ran out.

"... Then I ran out, yelling 'run, run' to the people there."

When Reece ran to the back of the building to investigate, she saw flames.

There were two employees and four customers inside the restaurant at the time of the explosion.

The founder and chief executive officer of the Liberty Youth Ranch, Alan Dimmitt, was in his office near the restaurant when he heard what sounded like a bomb.

"I heard two loud booms and it looked like a tire exploded and it was impressive how fast the firetrucks responded.''

Redfield said damage to the cafe was minimal.

LB's Gas owners could not be reached for comment.