Douglas Walker, 44, of South Nyack was arrested Tuesday on charges related to his possible role in the explosion that injured eight people at Nyack College June 4.
According to South Nyack-Grand View Police, Walker faces charges of second degree reckless endangerment and third-degree assault, which are both misdemeanors. The investigation of the explosion inside Nyack College's Sky Island Loge is ongoing, but it has been determined Walker accidentally created a gas leak on campus which caused the explosion.
"It was not intentional, but there are aspects of the cause of the explosion that could have been avoided," South Nyack-Grand View Police Chief Brent Newbury said.
In the days following the explosion, officials with Orange & Rockland Utilities discovered a damaged gas line on South Highland Drive on the campus. They found evidence of construction work done in the area and announced that the damage to the pipe was consistent with being hit by heavy equipment such as a backhoe.
Two students and one South Nyack-Grand View Police Officer were among those injured in the blast. The college campus and nearby Nyack Middle School were evacuated and power and gas service were disrupted in the area.
According to police, Walker was employed by Aramark Facilities Management, which provides contract services to over 600 colleges and universities.
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