YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) — A crew working in the basement area of an Ohio building intentionally cut a gas line not knowing it was pressurized before a deadly explosion this week, the National Transportation Safety Board said Friday.

NTSB board member Tom Chapman said workers were in the basement to clear out piping and other outdated infrastructure. He said workers smelled no gas before they started cutting the pipe and knew there was a problem when they made the third cut.

At that point, workers pulled the fire alarm and alerted residents and bank employees to evacuate. Chapman said the explosion happened six minutes after that cut. Investigators will try to determine why the pipe was pressurized.

The explosion Tuesday afternoon blew out much of the ground floor of Realty Tower, killing a bank employee and injuring several other people.

It collapsed part of the ground floor into its basement and sent the façade across the street. Bricks, glass and other debris littered the sidewalk outside the 13-story building, which had a Chase Bank branch at street level and apartments in upper floors.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WXIX) – Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced an expansion of the state’s sales tax holiday on Friday.

In conjunction with the Ohio General Assembly, Gov. DeWine expanded the holiday 10 days from Tuesday, July 30 to Thursday, Aug. 8.

The holiday allows tax-free purchases on in-person or online sales of eligible items up to $500.

“Ohio’s sales tax holiday, historically, was meant to help families buy clothing and school supplies for the coming school year,” DeWine said in a release. “This expanded sales tax break will help Ohio’s families with back-to-school necessities as well as other substantial purchases during a time when so many household budgets are being strained.”

Previous Ohio sales tax holidays ran three days, included only school-related items, and had purchase limits of $75.

Exemptions from the holiday include purchases of watercraft, outboard motors, motor vehicles, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, vapor products and items that contain marijuana.

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Former Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller announced Thursday that he has been selected for the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2024. The school’s athletic department has yet to announce the other members of the class.

Blessed to be selected for the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2024.. Buckeye Nation, I’ll love ya’ll forever.. #GoBucks @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/eDPGyR4DyR

— BRAXTON MILLER (@BraxtonMiller5) May 31, 2024

A Dayton, Ohio, native and Wayne High School graduate, Miller was the No. 30 overall prospect and No. 2 dual-threat quarterback in the 2011 class, according to the 247Sports composite. He committed to Ohio State over Alabama, Florida, Notre Dame, USC and seven other schools.

At Ohio State, Miller became one of the most electrifying players in college football as soon as his freshman year. A 10-game starter in his first season, he recorded 1,159 yards, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions as a passer and added another 715 yards and seven scores as a runner.

Over the next two seasons, Miller became a two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, throwing for 4,133 yards, 39 touchdowns and 13 interceptions while running for 2,339 yards and 25 scores. Miller led Ohio State to an undefeated 12-0 season in 2012 (the NCAA banned the Buckeyes from postseason competition as a result of “Tattoogate”) and a 12-2 season in 2013.

In the final game of Ohio State’s 2013 season – a 40-35 loss to Clemson in the Orange Bowl – Miller suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery. He later tore the labrum of the same shoulder in practice and took a medical redshirt for the 2014 season. Then-head coach Urban Meyer turned to J.T. Barrett to lead the offense. When Barrett broke his ankle in The Game that year, Cardale Jones took over and led the Buckeyes to three historic wins over Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon to win the national title.

In Miller’s final season at Ohio State, he did not return to quarterback due to complications with his throwing shoulder. Instead, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound athlete moved to wide receiver (or H-back). Miller shined there, too, collecting 601 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 8.8 yards per touch.

After his college career ended, Miller became the Houston Texans’ third-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft. In two seasons with the franchise, Miller caught 34 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns.