Coryell Memorial reopens, cause of explosion still “undetermined”

By LYNETTE SOWELL 
Cove Leader-Press 

One week after an explosion rocked Coryell Memorial Hospital, the county’s public medical facility and complex is resuming the business of caring for patients. 
On Saturday, the hospital opened for urgent care and the emergency room opened on Sunday. EMS services continued uninterrupted while the hospital was closed. 
The Oaks Independent Living and Assisted Living residents are back in their homes, and The Meadows longterm care (nursing home) residents have been moved back in Monday and today, said Carly Latham, marketing director for Coryell Memorial Health System. 
She said the hospital is opening this morning, Tuesday, and will begin accepting patients, with the operating room expected to open by Monday, July 9.
“As of (Monday), Coryell Medical Clinic Building 1 and 2 are open,” Latham said. “Two local preachers joined our clinic staff to lead us in prayer. Our thoughts and prayers are with the construction workers and their families today, as they have been every day since Tuesday. 
“All patients were contacted last week to be rescheduled and scheduled patients with appointments that have not been contacted should present to at their appointment time as usual.”
On Sunday, the State Fire Marshal’s office concluded its onsite forensic examination at Coryell Memorial Hospital and released the entire property back to CMH staff, said Gatesville Police Chief Nathan Gohlke.  
“Although the cause of the explosion is still undetermined, the initial investigation indicates that it was a construction related accident resulting in a natural gas explosion,” Gohlke stated in a press release on Sunday. “Rumors that this explosion was a result of a buildup of large amounts of migrate gas in the gas lines, are not true.”    
Gohlke said that the investigation is still ongoing and will continue until all victims and witnesses can be interviewed, which may take up to six months to complete.
The June 26 explosion injured 14, with two fatalities. Michael Bruggman, 43, of Rogers, working as a subcontractor onsite for Lochridge Priest, died during the explosion. On Friday, Gohlke announced that Filiberto Morales, age 36, of Round Rock, had passed away from his injuries on Thursday afternoon. Morales was an employee of Network Controls.
As far as the remaining victims, two are still at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, three at San Antonio Military Medical Center in San Antonio, and four are at Dell Seaton Medical Center in Austin.