Erie, Pa., boat explosion leaves 1 dead, 9 injured

ERIE, Pa. – Officials in Pennsylvania say a powerboat was having mechanical difficulties before exploding near a yacht club on Lake Erie, killing one person and injuring nine others.

Erie Chief Fire Inspector Guy Santone tells the Erie Times-News that the boat's operators were having difficulty refueling the 32-foot vessel.

Santone says an old gasket "gave way" and allowed fuel vapors to enter the engine compartment. He says the boat exploded when it backfired during an attempt to restart it.

The county coroner says 25-year-old Erin Carlisle died instantly after the accident Monday at the Erie Yacht Club.

Police tell the newspaper that at least nine people were injured. Four of the injured were aboard the boat while five were on the dock.