MAY 26, 2023, NOON UPDATE:
Times of tragedy can bring out the best in people as they act quickly to provide support for those coping with the situation. Unfortunately, equally as quick to activate are scammers trying to take advantage of the situation and people’s desire to help.
Jessie Schmidt is with the Better Business Bureau in South Dakota. She urges people wanting to help the Hupp family of rural Fort Pierre to donate with an entity they are familiar with.
A Wednesday morning (May 24, 2023) blast killed Kelsey and Trevor Hupp’s 6 month old daughter Harper and Trevor’s parents, Bill and LaDonna. Trevor and Kelsey’s sons, 5 year old Myles and 3 year old Royce, were airlifted to a burn unit in St. Paul.
Schmidt says people should be cautious of scam artists masquerading as a fundraising organization. She says double check any website links or other offers claiming to raise money for the family to be sure the link you see is legit.
Schmidt says fraudsters may also try to deceive you through direct messaging claiming to be raising funds for the family.
MAY 26, 2023, UPDATE:
The mother of two boys injured in a home explosion southeast of Fort Pierre earlier this week (May 24, 2023) says the boys are in stable condition at a burn center in St. Paul and are making positive progress.
On their CaringBridge page, Kelsey Hupp says doctors updated 3 year old Royce’s burns to being on 36% of his body, but are VERY optimistic that he could heal most of these on his own, without grafts. She says there may be one or two areas that require that, but it would be in a week. She says, “Not only does the kid wiggle all the time he continues to wiggle when he is sedated.”
Kelsey says 5 year old Myles’ burns are all superficial, at this point. She says he’s off of one of his sedation medications, can hear them talking and is responding to questions. She says doctors will slowly wean down his sedation and do some trial breathing off the ventilator.
The Wednesday blast killed Kelsey and Trevor Hupp’s infant daughter, Harper (6 months), and both of Trevor’s parents, Bill (66) and LaDonna (61).
A fund for the Hupp family has been set up at First Dakota National Bank. Donations can be made at any location.
There’s also a GoFundMe page set up for the family.
Authorities said earlier this week that the cause of the explosion is under investigation, but at this point foul play is not suspected.
MAY 25, 2023, NOON UPDATE:
A fund for a rural Fort Pierre family devastated by the loss of three family members in a home explosion yesterday (May 24, 2023) has been set up at First Dakota National Bank.
The blast killed Kelsey and Trevor Hupp’s infant daughter, Harper (6 months), and both of Trevor’s parents, Bill (66) and LaDonna (61). Trevor and Kelsey’s sons, 5 year old Myles and 3 year old Royce, were airlifted to a burn unit in St. Paul.
While Trevor worked at the Pierre location, donations to the Hupp family can be made at any First Dakota National Bank. The bank says donations of food, clothing and other items can be dropped off at Maier Meats-The Hangout (102 Deadwood Street) in Fort Pierre.
There’s also a GoFundMe page set up for the family. At noon the account balance was over $260,000.
Kelsey provided an update on the CaringBridge page this morning (May 25, 2023). She said Myles has burns on 10% of his body, mainly 1st and 2nd degree, and is in stable condition. Royce has 25% of his body burned and more severe 3rd degree burns on his chest and arms.
Stanley County Sheriff Brad Rathbun said yesterday that the cause of the explosion is under investigation, but at this point foul play is not suspected.
MAY 25, 2023, 8am UPDATE:
A CaringBridge page has been created to share the progress of the two children burned in a home explosion yesterday (May 24, 2023) along Highway 1806 southeast of Fort Pierre.
Kelsey and Trevor Hupp were at work when the explosion occurred. The blast killed Kelsey and Trevor Hupp’s infant daughter, Harper (6 months), and both of Trevor’s parents, Bill (66) and LaDonna (61). Trevor and Kelsey’s sons, 5 year old Myles and 3 year old Royce, were airlifted to a burn unit in St. Paul.
Kelsey provided an update on the CaringBridge page this morning (May 25, 2023). Myles has burns on 10% of his body, mainly 1st and 2nd degree, and is in stable condition. She said Royce has 25% of his body burned and more severe 3rd degrees on his chest and arms.
The blast also completely leveled their home.
A GoFundMe account has also been established for the Hupp family.
Kelsey’s entire CaringBridge post from early today is below.
“I don’t even know where to start. But I know everyone is praying for our little family and we want people to know what’s going on, so they can continue to pray. We made it to Regions in St. Paul at their burn center. It was a long afternoon and night. But both boys were cleared through trauma and got all the necessary things started. They have a great team of doctors, APPs, nurses and techs on board. They haven’t left our side. Myles has burns on 10% of his body, mainly 1st and 2nd degree. He is intubated. He squeezes my hand and wiggles his toes. He even fought sedation one time and sat up and looked around. He is stable. Roycey boy has 25% of his body burned and more severe 3rd degrees on his chest and arms. He is also intubated and will be longer than Myles. Not to be out done he also woke up from sedation wild eyed, which is in true Royce fashion. I’ve been tickling his cute fat toes and he wiggles them for me too. The boys have a long road ahead of them, but we are just so thankful that we even have this road with them. They are strong and will persevere. I will do my best to update as I can because I know everyone cares. Please don’t stop praying. I’m going to need every ounce I can get to continue. We love our family, friends and community so much.”
MAY 25, 2023:
A fundraising account set up for a rural Fort Pierre family who lost three family members and their home in an explosion yesterday (May 24, 2023) has raised over $150-thousand in less than 12 hours.
As of 8:30 this morning, a GoFundMe page set up for the Trevor and Kelsey Hupp family had a balance of more than $190-thousand.
According to the fundraising site, Kelsey and Trevor were at work when the explosion occurred at their home along Highway 1806 in the Antelope Creek area southeast of Fort Pierre. The blast killed Kelsey and Trevor Hupp’s infant daughter, Harper (6 months), and both of Trevor’s parents, Bill (66) and LaDonna (61). Trevor and Kelsey’s sons, 5 year old Myles and 3 year old Royce, were airlifted to a burn unit in St. Paul. A CaringBridge page has been set up to to share updates on the boys’ progress.
The blast also completely leveled their home.
Stanley County Sheriff Brad Rathbun said yesterday that the cause of the explosion is under investigation, but at this point foul play is not suspected.
MAY 24, 2023, 4:15pm UPDATE:
DRG Media Group has received unconfirmed reports of a house explosion late this morning (May 24, 2023) southeast of Fort Pierre on Highway 1806 in the Antelope Creek area.
Stanley County Sheriff Brad Rathbun confirmed to KELOLAND’s Bob Mercer that at least one adult died in the explosion. Mercer says three other people were taken to Avera St. Mary’s in Pierre, including a man and two children.
Mercer reported the house is flattened and the explosion sent debris flying 50 to 100 yards in all directions. The only thing left standing is some children’s playground equipment.
Rathbun says at this point, the cause is unknown. Foul play is not suspected but fire investigators are still looking into the cause.
(Some information in this story was provided by, and used with the permission of, KELOLAND.)
MAY 24, 2023, 3:35pm UPDATE:
DRG Media Group is still waiting to hear from officials regarding a home explosion late this morning (May 24, 2023) southeast of Fort Pierre on Highway 1806. Updated information for the media says the Stanley County Sheriff’s Office will be providing details about the incident.
UNCONFIRMED reports say there were multiple fatalities.
Submitted photo.
Submitted photo.
Submitted photo.
MAY 24, 2023, 3pm UPDATE:
DRG Media Group is still waiting to hear from officials regarding a home explosion late this morning (May 24, 2023) southeast of Fort Pierre on Highway 1806. The Stanley County Sheriff’s Office has directed us to call the South Dakota Fire Marshal’s Office for information about the incident. UNCONFIRMED reports say there were multiple fatalities.
MAY 24, 2023:
DRG Media Group has received unconfirmed reports of emergency responders from Pierre, Fort Pierre, Hughes and Stanley counties on scene of a house explosion south of Fort Pierre.
Further details will be forthcoming.
