1 Hospitalized, 2 Arrested After Meth Lab Explosion

News9.com

LUTHER, Oklahoma – One man is in critical condition and two people have been arrested after a meth lab explosion in eastern Oklahoma County.

Emergency crews were called to the home in the 15000 block of N. Pottawatomie Road around 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Firefighters found Nathan L. Knapp, 48, with third degree burns. He was transported to helicopter to an Oklahoma City hospital where he remained in critical condition Thursday afternoon.

Knapp's son, Nathan C. Knapp told firefighters that his father had been burning trash outside the trailer using gasoline when the flames got out of control. 

Doctor's at the hospital determined that the burns were chemical burns that were not caused by gasoline. Doctors contacted Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office and deputies began investigating the fire. They found signs that a meth lab had been inside the trailer.

Investigators were told that Knapp Sr. had been cooking methamphetamine inside a small bathroom when the chemicals exploded. He then jumped out of a small window to the outside of the trailer and ran back inside the front door seeking help to put the flames out on his body, deputies said. 

The people inside were able to put the flames out and before calling 911 Knapp Jr. attempted to destroy all the evidence of the meth lab by setting fire to the evidence outside of the trailer, investigators said.

A 2-year-old boy who was in the trailer at the time of the explosion was placed into DHS protective custody.

Nathan C. Knapp, 27, was arrested on complaints of manufacturing a controlled dangerous substance, obstructing an officer, and child neglect. Deputies also arrested Kristen Danker, 22, on complaints of child neglect and manufacturing a controlled dangerous substance.

Investigators said further charges could be presented to the D.A. pending the status of Nathan Knapp Sr.