
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 7, 1990                   TAG: 9003072009
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A/1   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CRESTED BUTTE, COLO.                                 LENGTH: Medium

BANK BLAST PROBED

Authorities today were investigating whether a bomb or a methane gas buildup caused an explosion that flattened a two-story bank building "like an accordion," killing three people and injuring 14.

A 12-member team from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was expected to arrive today in this Rocky Mountain ski resort to search for clues in the rubble of Crested Butte State Bank.

The building - except the vault - was leveled by the blast. Firefighters and volunteers dug by hand through the rubble to pull out survivors. Heavy snow hampered rescue efforts and delayed the arrival of ambulances.

Police Chief Hank Smith said two restaurants had received bomb threats in the past week, and one of them was evacuated.

"I'm not ruling out a bomb, and I'm not ruling out an explosion from methane buildup," he said. "We're just now beginning the investigation."

Dick Schussler, an FBI spokesman in Denver, said sabotage was a possibility, but he didn't know of a motive. "It's not like this is a bank that's financing South Africa," he said.

The explosion occurred at 9:15 a.m., shortly after the bank opened.

Two of the injured were in serious condition, including bank President Thom Cox.

"I saw the second-floor windows blown out and the roof going up in the air," said a businessman across the street who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"Then the side walls started to blow out, and the front seemed to come out, breaking in half, with the top coming out and the bottom folding like an accordion."

Bank employee Lucy Zavela was working in her second-floor office when she "thought someone had fallen out of their chair. Then I was just falling. I ended up in a fetal position, and could see some light, and then almost immediately heard voices. Somebody dragged me out, and I thought it was a dream."

Killed were bank employees Donna Smith, Jade Woelk and Monica Henning, all of Crested Butte. Authorities hope to learn more about the blast from autopsies on the victims, Gunnison County Coroner C.J. Miller said.

by CNB