TYRONE, Pa. (WJAC) — Following their preliminary investigation, Peoples Natural Gas says they believe they know what caused a deadly house explosion in Tyrone last month.

Peoples Spokesperson Barry Kukovich says the company has been led to believe that the gas leak was caused by a pipeline being struck by a horizontal drill operated by a contractor working on a water project.

“Our preliminary investigation leads us to believe that the gas leak on July 26th in Tyrone, Pennsylvania was due to our pipeline being struck by a horizontal drill operated by a contractor working on a water project,” Kukovich said in a statement emailed to 6 News. “We have determined that our lines were properly marked. We have conducted safety checks along the streets of Tyrone to make sure that no other parts of our system have been affected, and we continue to work with multiple agencies that are conducting ongoing investigations.”

The July 26 explosion happened on Pennsylvania Ave., injured five people and killed 83-year-old Anna Hunsicker, according to investigators.

Among the injured was a Peoples gas employee who was called to the home for reports of a gas-like odor, officials said.

The Tyrone Police Department and state fire marshal continue to investigate.

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