What caused ute explosion that killed dad on school run?
Authorities believe a leaking gas canister may have led to a deadly blast which killed a father waiting to pick up his child from school in Canberra.
Just before 5pm on Thursday emergency crews were called to St Clare of Assisi Primary School in Conder after an explosion blew a hole in the side of a ute in the car park.
A 51-year-old man was rushed to Canberra Hospital but later died from his injuries.
No one else was injured in the incident.
An ACT Policing statement released on Friday said police believe the incident is not suspicious.
“Early investigations suggest a leaking gas canister may have caused the explosion,” the statement said.
Catholic Education director Ross Fox said the man was picking up his child from after-school care.
“It’s a tragic event for the community and we’ll be doing everything we can to support the family, the affected student and the community,” he told The Canberra Times.
The school’s Principal Matt Egan-Richards emailed parents about the tragedy on Thursday.
“It is with deep sadness that I need to let you know that following an incident in the school car park today, one of our parents has passed away,” the email obtained by the ABC read.
On Friday, the principal remembered the man as a “down to earth good bloke.”
A report is to be prepared for the Coroner with assistance from WorkSafe ACT.
Flowers laid outside the school South of Canberra where a 51-year-old father was killed by an explosion from a ute #7News pic.twitter.com/11XoS1ooLt
— Jennifer Bechwati (@jenbechwati) August 3, 2018
