2 Dead, 3 Injured In Explosion At West Haven VA Medical Center

WEST HAVEN, CT — Two people were killed and three others were injured in an explosion at the West Haven VA Medical Center Friday morning, according to officials.

The explosion occurred around 8 a.m. in the basement of a building where a leaky steam pipe was being replaced, according to Alfred Montoya Jr., director of the VA Connecticut Healthcare System.

One of the victims was a VA employee and the other was a contractor. Three others were treated for minor injuries, according to Montoya.

The victims' identities were not released. Montoya said one was a U.S. Navy veteran. He said he spoke with the victim’s loved one and it was one of the most difficult moments of his VA career. She told Montoya that he went to work at the VA because he wanted to give back to his fellow veterans.

“It’s moments like that, that tear at your heart and soul,” Montoya said during a news conference Friday afternoon.

Montoya said the explosion occurred in a building outside the hospital grounds and there were no disruptions to hospital services. The work being done on the pipe was part of regular maintenance, he said.

An investigation into the cause of the explosion was underway.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, one of several officials who attended the news conference, said it was a “profoundly sad and tragic day.”

Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said the tragedy is a reminder that veterans do more than just serve in uniform.

“They come back and serve in our communities,” Blumenthal said, noting 30 percent of VA employees are veterans.

Blumenthal also said the explosion underscores the need to update VA facilities across the country. He said the West Haven facility dates back to the 1950s. He pledged to redouble efforts to construct a new facility.

“This tragedy is only the latest indication that this building is past its sell-by date,” Blumenthal said.

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy thanked all the health care workers and stressed it's unknown if the building’s age was a contributing factor in the explosion.

Gov. Ned Lamont noted the veteran died just days after Veterans Day.

“It’s a tragedy in the middle of a pandemic,” Lamont said.

Officials said the three other people injured were VA employees.

“My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the two individuals who lost their lives at the VA,” West Haven Mayor Nancy R. Rossi said. “I want to thank our many first responders for assisting the hospital in this tragic incident.”

State Sen. James Maroney, who is co-chair of the legislature’s Veterans Affair Committee, offered his condolences to the victims’ families.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their life in the explosion at the VA today," Maroney said in a statement. "I have nothing but gratitude and appreciation for the first responders who are on hand dealing with the situation as we wait to find out what caused the explosion."