Tonkawa man dies of burns suffered in house explosion

<br>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) _ An Oklahoma man who was critically injured when his house exploded last month has died in a Wichita hospital. <br><br>Harold Rogers, 52, of Tonkawa, died Wednesday at Via Christi

Thursday, October 3rd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) _ An Oklahoma man who was critically injured when his house exploded last month has died in a Wichita hospital.

Harold Rogers, 52, of Tonkawa, died Wednesday at Via Christi Burn Center.

Rogers had been in critical condition since the explosion Sept. 25 that caused second- and third-degree burns to more than half his body.

A natural gas pipeline at the house was damaged when it was hit by a car, causing an underground leak that allowed gas to collect under the house, Tonkawa Fire Marshal Darren Pendleton said.

The gas then ignited, perhaps when an air conditioner came on, Pendleton said.