MEDLEY, Fla. – Two victims killed in an explosion Tuesday at a welding company in Medley were identified by family and friends Wednesday as 60-year-old Elias Gross and Vincent Williams.
The powerful and deadly blast was recorded by a home surveillance camera just before 9 a.m. Tuesday at 11300 NW S. River Drive.
Sources say the two people who died were customers of the welding company, including Gross, who friends said started a fuel business within the last year.
Joshua Gross, son of Elias, told Local 10 News that he doesn’t know how he’s going to live without him.
“I can only say good about him. He never got mad (and) he handled everything calm and composed. He went to every single sports practice (and) he was with me throughout my whole life,” he said. “I don’t know how I’m going to live the rest of my life without him.”
Joshua told Local 10 News that he is heartbroken and is remembering a father that he lost too soon.
“Every time he came home, that was the one person I truly wanted to see at the end of the day,” he said. “Every time I came back from the school gym (from) boxing, he was with me every step of the way.”
Stacey Lynn-Gross, Elias’ wife of 17 years, told Local 10 News that the second victim killed in the explosion was Vincent Williams aka “Vinny,” Elias’ best friend.
Gross, who said she was too distraught to talk on camera, released the following statement to Local 10 News regarding the death of both men:
Family, friends and neighbors are also in mourning, telling local 10 News that Gross was a pillar of the community.
“He was always there (and) you knew that you could count on him,” said Gross’ neighbor Jaci Muzanel. “He was just such a great guy. It really is a devastating loss.”
“He lived for making other people’s lives better--that’s Elias Gross,” said a woman named Dana, the godmother of Gross’ children.
Sky 10 was above the scene just before 9 a.m. as heavy flames were coming from multiple semi-trucks and cars that were parked at the business.
Authorities confirmed that employees were working on heavy machinery before the fire ignited.
“It seems that the company is a welding company. They were working on some heavy machinery, and right now, investigators are still trying to find out what caused this combustion,” Miami-Dade police Detective Luis Sierra said.
Officials said it was a hazardous scenario as there were a lot of flammables in the area.
“Our units deployed multiple hose lines to get the fire under control while navigating downed power lines in a very hazardous scene,” Deputy Fire Chief Danny Cardesa said.
According to authorities, two people were hospitalized and are listed in critical condition, including an employee.
A third victim was assessed and treated at the scene by first responders.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Homicide Bureau and Arson Unit.