House explosion in Victoria kills mom, injures baby

VICTORIA, TX (KTRK) -- Authorities are trying to figure out what set off a deadly home explosion in Victoria. That blast killed a young mother and injured her baby.

The mother has been identified as Haley Singer. Her baby girl is now hospitalized in San Antonio. The explosion Wednesday morning reduced their two-story home to a pile rubble.

Witnesses report seeing smoke just moments before the powerful blast.

"I looked to the left and there's a plume of smoke. Then I hear a boom and then like a shockwave actually hit me," Victoria resident Chris Callahan said.

Firefighters believe the baby survived the explosion because a mattress fell on top of her, protecting her from falling debris.