3 critically injured in explosion at South Hills home

WHITEHALL, Pa. — Three people were critically injured in a Wednesday night explosion at a South Hills home.

The victims are at UPMC Mercy, according to Whitehall Fire Chief David Nelson.

It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the explosion on McKee Drive, but it occurred as three people were working on basement flooring in the home.

Neighbors step up to help three men injured by explosion in South Hills home. | @LindsayWardTV just talked to neighbors on #WPXI News at 5. https://t.co/3WkFVNn8fm pic.twitter.com/g8yuavS6mn
— WPXI (@WPXI) September 6, 2018

"I just hear a loud boom and loud glass shattering and a ton of screaming," said neighbor Carllie Reck.

"All of a sudden I see the three guys coming up from the basement. The one who came to my door, his face was white like stark white. I don't know it if was blisters. He was sweating, his one eye was closed, he was screaming for help."

Here’s a look at some of the items used for flooring placed right near the driveway. Also, a next door neighbor actually dragged her hose over to the home to try to spray down the men who were screaming for help after they were severely burned. @WPXI pic.twitter.com/BPsNXmokV0
— Mike Holden (@WPXIMikeHolden) September 6, 2018

Another neighbor, Ashley Sites, is a registered nurse and rushed to help the men.

"One victim was pretty bad," she said. "He had facial burns, his fingertips were badly burned all the way down to the fingertips -- you could see the bone. He was definitely in the most pain."