State police said a sixth person has died from a lethal explosion that ripped through a Salem home last week.
Darrell Durham, 20, died today from injuries sustained in the blast, according to state police. Durham was being treated at the burn unit in the Westchester Medical Center since being airlifted from the scene on July 13.
The cause of the explosion is still under investigation by the state police and the state Office of Fire Prevention and Control. There were reports of a propane leak at the two-story home off Route 29, but investigators have declined to pinpoint the gas as a cause.
Durham was predeceased by his daughter, two-month-old Niah Durham, who was the fifth victim to die in the blast. The infant’s mother, 21-year-old Alicia Berg was also badly injured in the explosion.
Witnesses describe the blast as lifting the entire structure in the air before splintering it into a debris field that rained down onto the home across the street. There were 11 people inside or around the house when the explosion occurred, some who simply stopped by on the afternoon of the blast.
Clarissa Lyn Porlier, 19, who was among the four who stopped by the residence, also died of her injuries. Robert Sanford, 16, Lawrence Berg Jr., 19, and Tammy Palmer, 41, all of whom resided at the home, died.
Survivors include 17-year-old Brianna Berg. Daniel Wilcox, 43, and Chelsey Wilcox, 15, who were both visiting the home, also survived the explosion along with Steven McComsey, 32, who resided there.
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