76-Year-Old Woman Identified As Victim In Derry House Explosion

DERRY, NH — The victim of the house explosion and fire on Goodhue Road Thursday has been identified as a 76-year-old woman who was at the house with her granddaughter.

Laura Percival's death was classified as accidental, and she died of complications of multiple blast injuries. The 11 year-old granddaughter survived and was transported to a Boston hospital for injuries including burns, she is expected to survive.

Derry firefighters and police responded to a report of an explosion at 141 Goodhue Road on Thursday just before noon. Several calls followed, reporting a fire at a residence.

Upon arrival, the single-family house was found heavily engulfed in fire, and firefighters were notified that one person was still in the residence. The child, who sources say was in the basement, exited through a hole and notified neighbors that her grandmother was still in the building.

A GoFundMe has been set up for the family here: "Help Violet and her family after losing everything today."

The preliminary investigation indicates that a tree fell due to the nor’easter snowstorm and struck two propane tanks on the backside of the house, causing a propane leak and subsequent explosion.

After investigators worked several hours Thursday and an excavator was brought to the scene to knock down the unstable structure.

Auburn, Chester, Hampstead, Hudson, Londonderry, Nashua, Salem, Sandown, and Windham fire departments assisted the Derry Fire Department. The Derry CERT Team also assisted with personnel rehabilitation.

Anyone with information about this incident should contact the NH State Fire Marshal’s Office at 603-223-4289 or by email at fmo@dos.nh.gov.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news.