OR Twp., MI- David Vienza, 57, remains in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries at Hurley Medical Center after he was injured during an explosion at his Pyles Road residence on Friday just before 10 a.m.
Vienza recently purchased the foreclosed Cape Cod style home, said Det./Sgt. Jason Parks in a news release.
Many appliances in the home run on liquid propane gas, including the water heater. Vienza was lighting the water heater’s pilot light when the explosion occurred.
“Preliminary investigation supports that there was a gas leak in the basement that caused the explosion,” Parks said.
Vienza’s step daughter, Autumn Hicks, 26, of Salt Lake City, was with her two-month-old son in the upper story of the residence, and her 4-year-old son was playing in the back yard when the explosion occurred, Parks stated.
The July 17 explosion remains under investigation by the Lapeer County Sheriff’s Dept.