Boat explodes, killing family dog and injuring two people in Macomb County
Two people sustained minor injuries, and a dog died after a boat explosion over the weekend in Macomb County, Michigan.
According to the Macomb County Sheriff's Office, the Marine Division was called at about 12:35 p.m. on Sept. 6 to the Emerald City Harbor in St. Clair Shores. The sheriff's office said that video showed the boat was getting fuel at the gas dock when it exploded, throwing the people into the water.
The sheriff's office said the dog was taken to an emergency veterinary hospital and died from its injuries.
"We pulled them out of the water and called the ambulance, and made sure the pumps were turned off," said a witness, who asked not to be identified.
Responding deputies found large debris floating in the water, and the boat was nearly submerged and no longer on fire. The sheriff's office said environmental services were requested due to "large contaminates of fuel and oil into the water." Additionally, the fuel dock sustained damage in the explosion.
"Biggest worry she had was the dog. She already saw her husband was OK, and she was just screaming, 'Where's my dog? Where's my dog?' I mean, c'mon, I don't care where you're at, that's a bad day, it's tragic," said Bill Parilo, who has a boat at the Emerald City Harbor. "This one here shook up the entire dock. I mean ... I'm sure everybody is now taking a look at their boats and they're doing what they should be doing anyway. But a wake-up call like this, it's just positively horrifying, it really was."
The sheriff's office does not believe foul play was involved.
The investigation is ongoing.