Home explosion kills 82-year-old mother, son says

STREATOR, IL -- An 82-year-old woman was killed in an explosion that leveled a home in Streator overnight, her son said.

Tim Davison, who lived in the home with his 82-year-old mother, tried to rescue her, but said he couldn't get to her in time.

"I tried to make it to where my mother was, asleep in her bed. I just couldn't there. The whole roof had collapsed on top of her. The flames and heat and the smoke were just too much to even get to her. I did try to get to her. But I just couldn't make it," Davison said.

Emergency crews were called to the home in the 300-block of Court Street around 11:30 p.m. Monday.

PHOTOS: Explosion levels home in Streator

Davison said his doors and windows were blown out Monday night and the whole house was engulfed in flames. Kathy Lankhier, who lives nearby, said the blast shook her home.

"The house was flat, instantly," Lankhier said. "You couldn't see a house then. It automatically went to the next house."

The LaSalle County Coroner's office confirmed one death in the explosion overnight, but did not release the age or gender of the deceased. No additional injuries have been reported.

"Normally I have a good sense of smell when it comes to gas. I didn't smell any gas," Davison said. "But that had to be what happened."

There is no official word yet on what caused the blast. Nicor and the state fire marshal were on the scene overnight. Fire crews were still on the scene as of 7 a.m. Tuesday.

Streator is about 90 miles southwest of Chicago.