Explosion at playground and near train tracks in Bellefontaine prompts investigation

BELLEFONTAINE — Evidence of an explosion at a Bellefontaine playground and a second explosion about two hours later has police investigating who may have been responsible.

Officers first responded to the 400 block of Kristina Drive around 11 p.m. Monday after receiving reports of a loud bang, or explosion in the area.

>> Coronavirus Pandemic: What you need to know Tuesday

Several people at a nearby apartment complex told police what they heard.

"I was told they all heard the explosion and it shook windows," an incident report read.

While investigating, police found a two-foot, or two-and-a-half, circular pattern in the gravel at the playground.

"The spot where the gravel had been moved outward, and there was what appeared to be an explosive mark in the center," police wrote in the report. "I could not locate any other evidence in the area to help identify what was detonated."

Around 1 a.m. this morning, there was a second report of a loud explosion about two miles from the playground explosion in the area of West Auburn Avenue and Eaton Street.

One caller told police the explosion was louder than a gunshot or fireworks and shook his windows. A second caller described the explosion as sounding like a cannon.

Witnesses said they believed the explosion happened on the railroad tracks and said a gold or tan vehicle, possiblly a Buick or Oldsmobile, fleeing from the area quickly after the explosion.

Police have asked anyone who may know anything about the possible people involved in the explosion to contact Bellefontaine Police.

© 2020 Cox Media Group