Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the deadly fire and explosion at a house in unincorporated Lake Zurich last week, but the dead resident recovered from the destroyed home was positively identified using dental records.
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At around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday , Lake County sheriff’s deputies, the Lake Zurich Rural Fire Protection District and other fire departments responded to a report of an explosion in the 23500 block of North Overhill Road in unincorporated Lake Zurich, according to a Lake County sheriff’s department news release.
“When responding units arrived, they found a home completely leveled,” authorities stated in the release.
A man’s body was recovered from the charred rubble after the fire was struck. An autopsy was done by the Lake County Coroner’s Office Wednesday.
Then on Friday, the coroner’s office identified him as Timothy Toczylowski, 77, who lived in the home.
“Identification was completed … by the Lake County Coroner’s Office Forensic Odontologist, who conducted a dental examination and compared it with the deceased’s dental records,” according to a news release from the coroner’s office.
Results from the autopsy indicate Toczylowski had injuries “consistent with” smoke inhalation. But, toxicology and carbon monoxide tests results are still pending, the coroner’s release explains.
In addition to other authorities on the scene, Nicor spokeswoman Jennifer Golz told Pioneer Press the gas utility provider was also onsite.
“Our personnel remain onsite to assist local authorities with their investigation,” she said.
The cause of the explosion remains under investigation by fire investigators from the county sheriff’s office, Lake Zurich Rural Fire Protection District and the state fire marshal, according to the coroner’s office.
Smoke still rises from the aftermath of a home explosion along 23000 block of North Overhill Drive in unincorporated Lake Zurich on June 5, 2024. (Stacey Wescott/baiduhai)