MEDINA, Ohio – A Medina mother died more than a week after she was severely burned in an apartment explosion that also killed her 18-year-old son.
Sheila Drake, 51, was in critical condition after the Feb. 9 explosion and fire at the Medina Village Apartments. Drake died Monday at MetroHealth in Cleveland, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office said.
The explosion and fire killed her bedridden son, Nathan Drake, and severely burned her husband. The husband remains at MetroHealth in fair condition, a hospital spokeswoman said Tuesday.
Five other people also suffered minor injuries in the explosion that happened about 3:15 a.m. at the apartment complex on Springbrook Road, officials said.
Investigators last week discovered at least 63 units in the apartment complex with gas leaks. Officials have made no direct connection between the gas leaks and the explosion.
Columbia Gas said last week that it would repair the gas leaks and conduct follow-up investigations at the apartment complex. The explosion did not damage the gas mains connected to the apartment complex, the company said.
Dozens of residents were forced from their homes so contractors could repair the gas leaks. Officials have no estimation for how long it might take to complete the repairs.
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