Two victims in the West Reading explosion identified

WEST READING, Pa. — The Berks County Coroner’s Office has identified two of the seven people killed in a Friday explosion at the R.M. Palmer chocolate factory in West Reading.

Amy S. Sandoe, 49, and Domingo Cruz, 60, are the first two victims to be identified. The coroner’s office said that their families — Sandoe lived in Ephrata, and Cruz hailed from Reading — have been notified and that the official cause of death remained under investigation. The coroner’s office said it had been in touch with all the families of the people believed to have been killed in the blast.

The length of time it will take to determine the cause of the explosion was unknown, said David Boehm, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania State Police, the lead agency investigating the cause. Investigators have not ruled out foul play.

“I would tell you everything’s on the table at this point,” said Boehm.

Monday afternoon offered additional clarity regarding the number of people affected by the blast.

Charles Barbera, CEO and president of Reading Hospital, said 10 patients were treated there, including three who walked the few blocks to the emergency room. Of the 10 patients, eight were sent home to the care of their families; two were admitted. One of those victims had to be transferred to a burn unit and the second was released to family Monday afternoon.

Authorities said some community members were left homeless as a result of the explosion, though they couldn’t offer a specific number.

The explosion destroyed one of two Palmer buildings, which authorities say served as a manufacturing and storage facility for their chocolate. There were offices on the top floors and a loading dock associated with the buildings.

West Reading Fire Marshal Troy Hatt said three buildings— 5 S. Second Ave., 77 S. Second Ave., and 200 Penn Ave. — have been deemed unsafe to occupy until engineers give the all-clear.

The loss of life has devastated the idyllic town of about 4,500 residents, who often use the phrase “tight-knit” to describe West Reading. They say simply by virtue of its size — the borough is about 0.6 of a square mile — it’s common to know your neighbor and know them well.

Residents say Palmer is a known and beloved business that’s been around for about 75 years. According to the company website, Palmer employed about 850 people. Many West Reading residents described growing up biting into the crisp chocolate Easter bunnies the company was known for.

Other Palmer products, such as their miniature peanut butter cups or chocolate eggs, could be found in major retailers such as Walmart.

“Everywhere you go, there’s Palmer,” Ryan Noll, who lives four blocks from the blast, said Saturday.

After the initial blast left several Palmer employees unaccounted for, families of the missing, Noll and other neighbors, as well as former employees stopped by a hillside with a view of the site to pray that rescuers down below would unearth someone alive from the mangled metal and rubble.

Families pleaded for updates, but even as bodies were pulled from the debris, there was little information officials could give.

Only one person was discovered alive late Friday with the help of rescue dogs.

Though West Reading Fire Chief Chad Moyer said the chance of finding survivors was rapidly decreasing as time moved on due to the “violence of the explosion,” rescue teams worked nonstop in 12- to 16-hour shifts.

West Reading Mayor Samantha Kaag said rescue workers had to be pulled from shifts because their impulse was to keep searching.

Parishioners at area churches offered prayers and lit candles for victims and families and the American Diner blocks away from the blast site held a fundraiser for relief efforts.

The final body was recovered from the rubble around 8:20 p.m. Sunday.

“This is still a devastating loss,” Kaag said Sunday night in front of a handmade “Palmers Strong” sign, “but we are truly grateful to be able to account for all presumptive missing and bring closure to families involved in the upcoming days.”

Officials announced the creation of the West Reading Disaster Relief Fund on Sunday. The Berks County Community Foundation and the United Way of Berks County will help distribute the funds to organizations assisting families who lost loved ones, lost work, or were displaced as a result of the blast. The remaining funds will go to help honor those who died.

As of Monday afternoon, West Reading officials said they’d raised close to $107,000. Donations can be made online or mailed to the Berks County Community Foundation (237 Court St., Reading, Pa. 19601).

A candlelight vigil is planned for Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Penn Street Bridge where Reading and West Reading connect.