The Crocker Park explosion had a big impact on nearby businesses and people who lived nearby. Many restaurants and stores closed early on Thursday. They felt an economic impact. One particular business also felt the impact of the explosion, literally.
Karen Lawler is a registered nurse who works for a plastic surgeon across the street from Crocker Park. She was with a patient when she felt the building rock, even knocking a metal valance off the window.
"The explosion was loud enough, you definitely knew it was some type of explosion. The shaking was enough to make us, patient and I, walking next to each other kind of side step a little bit," Lawler said.
As a precaution, Lawler and her staff immediately shut off the center's medical gas tanks.
Benjamin Haney gave a presentation at the Ohio Clinic, but on his way in around 10:45 a.m., he couldn't believe what he was seeing while at a red light. "I saw the explosion. You could see the flames go up, it was quick. A huge ball of flames and debris started coming across, flying over there," Haney said. His SUV was covered in soot, but it was not damaged.
Inside the Ohio Clinic, Lawler said they could smell gas from the explosion inside their building for about an hour. "It was pretty strong. You could smell it in the front and more by the back door here as well. It was definitely an odor of natural gas," Lawler said.
The Ohio Center For Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery was expected to be back open for business in the morning.
