VIDEO-13 year old girl killed in home explosion, brother calls her a "best friend" | Local News - WTAE Home

It was a disaster like no one on Eldersville Road had ever seen. Minutes after 7 a.m., a Follansbee, W. Va., home exploded, devastating the George and Tracy Mozingo family inside, taking the life of their daughter, Hannah Mozingo. Neighbors' windows shattered, and doors were unhinged by the force of the apparent natural gas explosion.

"It was like a big boom, and I thought a flash of fire went across my porch. I thought, my goodness, my house is on fire. It probably looked like a tornado. That's exactly what it looked like. Everything was destroyed," said neighbor Jeannie Moninger of the destruction of the home across the street from hers.

"I saw nothing but deep black smoke and there was debris still falling out of the sky, and one whole section of the house was up in flames," said witness Mark Jacobi, who was staying at his mother-in-law's home nearby.

VIDEO: Bob Mayo reports from the explosion sceneSLIDESHOW: Photos of the explosion scene

"I was totally amazed by what I saw down here. I could not believe this much devastation. There was this tremendous flash. I looked out the window, I thought it was a lightning strike right here, a humongous lightning strike. I have never heard an explosion that loud," said neighbor Ron Bottorf.

Debris and pieces of their home were strewn across the neighborhood for great distances, including wooden boards with protruding nails, putting other families nearby in jeopardy.

"There was stuff way up in the air, floating down like after the Fourth of July skyrockets, and pieces of parts burning , falling down," said Bottorf.

The father of the Mozingo family was flown by medical helicopter to UPMC Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. The mother and another daughter were rushed to Trinity West Hospital in Steubenville, Ohio.

On Friday night, a large group of Hannah's classmates and friends gathered for a vigil to remember her life and support one another.

"It means a lot to me. It means a lot to my family too," said her brother, Tyler Mozingo. "She was like a best friend to me. We did everything together. I'd do anything to get her back."

Investigators are still searching for the answer as to why the explosion happened.

"I will confirm that we had received a call of a natural gas odor in the area, very shortly prior to, moments, minutes prior to the explosion," said Sheriff Chuck Jackson of Brooke County WV. "We had fire companies here . It was under investigation, and within moments then we had the explosion." Jackson said dispatchers were contacting gas utility crews when it happened.

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