MOUNT VERNON, Ill. -- More than 30 people have been displaced after a car crash into their apartment building caused an explosion and massive blaze.
Mount Vernon police say 30-year-old James Scroggins crashed into the apartment building in the 3400 block of Veterans Memorial Drive around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday.
When officers arrived on the scene, they detected the smell of natural gas, which prompted an evacuation of the building. During the evacuation, there was an explosion which ignited the building.
A Mount Vernon firefighter was the only person injured during the explosion. He was treated at the hospital and later released.
Scroggins has been charged with aggravated driving under the influence, driving under the influence, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and improper lane usage. He's being held at the Jefferson County Justice Center with bond to be set.
