Minnehaha Academy Explosion: 2 Confirmed Deaths

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — An gas leak explosion at a Minneapolis school Wednesday killed two beloved staff members, injured nine others and sent an entire community into shock and grief. The search for the final unaccounted-for person at Minnehaha Academy's upper campus ended late Wednesday when a second body was pulled from the rubble.

Both fatalities were cherished and dedicated members of the school community. The first confirmed fatality was identified as Ruth Berg, who worked for Minnehaha Academy for 17 years.

"As our receptionist, she welcomed everyone with a smile and was always willing to go the extra mile to help our students, families, and staff," the school said in a statement. "She will be greatly missed. Please keep Ruth's family, and our school community, in your prayers."

You can donate to the Minnehaha Fire Memorial Fund here (via GoFundMe).

The school identified the second fatality as John Carlson. Carlson graduated from Minnehaha Academy in 1953. He then sent his kids there, and later came back to work at the school after retiring from his first career. (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Minnesota Patch, click here to find your local Minnesota Patch. Also, follow us on Facebook, and if you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

"John will be deeply missed. Please keep John's family, Ruth's family, those who were injured, and our school community, in your prayers. Thank you to all of the emergency responders in their efforts, and thank you to the community that has shown such support throughout this tragic day."

All nine injured in the blast were hospitalized at the Hennepin County Medical Examiner. HCMC said it's currently treating one critical and two satisfactory patients. All others have been released.

The explosion was a result of a gas leak that occurred while contractors were doing work on the campus, confirmed Bryan Tyner, assistant chief of administration for the Minneapolis Fire Department. Tyner noted there could have been many more fatalities if the explosion had taken place during the regular school year.

CenterPoint Energy said the cause of the gas leak is known at this time. The company said it will conduct an investigation to determine the cause.

One resident living less than two blocks from the school told Patch she could easily hear the explosion when it happened.

Police also ask that the general public avoids the area.

Minnehaha Academy is a private, Christian school in Minneapolis that teaches students from pre-K through 12th grade on two campuses, with a focus on college prep.

Sara Jacobson, executive director of institutional advancement at Minnehaha Academy, told KSTP there were 12 students in the gym when the explosion occurred. Jacobson confirmed those students were not injured due to the distance between the gym and the explosion.

Image via GoFundMe