We appreciate your time. Thanks for joining us. Tonight, the deadly blast rocking an american city. The massive explosion, a building leveled. You could feel the blast across the city, witnesses said. At least one dead, several injured, raced from the scene. Firefighters had been called to the area right before the explosion. Also at this hour, the major snowstorm slamming several states right now. Up to two feet of snow, dangerous winds, 1,000 flights grounded or delayed. 100 miles of a key interstate shut down tonight. Rob marciano has the track and the timing as we head into this evening. Attorney general william barr on the hill, pressed on how he could determine there was no Obstruction Of Justice when Robert Mueller did not. And what he said about spying on the trump campaign. The horrific and deadly bus crash today. The Truck Barrelling through an intersection, slamming right into a school bus. That Deadly Police standoff, officers called to this home, both officers shot. And tonight, we have now learned what they thought they were responding to. The beloved High School Principal who died after donating bone marrow to a boy. How does this happen . Your money tonight. Gas prices on the rise. And where its already topping 4. And tonight, the new report. The best day to buy gas and the worst. One of the great mysteries tonight. Astronomers now revealing the first image of a black hole. And a nation riveted. He was one of the most famous Tv Contestants, watched by millions. Back in the news tonight. Good evening. And its great to have you with us here on a wednesday night. And we are tracking that major blizzard on the move tonight. 20 states, 1,000 flights affected. But we do begin tonight with that horrific scene in durham, north carolina, a massive explosion. It happened after a call about a gas leak near downtown, a downtown building, in fact. Firefighters answering the call. They were trying to evacuate people when the massive explosion then happened. Fire, smoke and the scene of devastation tonight. Firefighters then battling the flames and looking for the injured, rushing them to get them help. Tonight, we know at least one person is dead, several others critically injured, and abcs chief National Affairs correspondent tom llamas is on the scene for you, and we warn you, the images are difficult. Reporter tonight, that deadly Gas Explosion rocking downtown durham. People running from the blast, covered in blood, as firefighters ran in, facing off with a giant fireball and smoke that could be seen for miles. Emergency crews now digging through this mountain of rubble, making sure no one is still trapped. We just heard a loud explosion, like, boom. Reporter city Officials Say at 9 38 this morning, the Fire Department was on site, responding to reports of a gas leak, likely from a construction
crew in the area that hit a natural gas line. Then at 10 07, as evacuations were underway, that massive blast. The whole building shook. It was, like, intense. I felt it through my whole body. Reporter watch as this nearby bridge cam captured the impact and sound of the blast. The Explosion Killing at least one person, 17 others rushed to the hospital, six in Critical Condition tonight. Oh, my god. Reporter the destruction seen from every angle. This is our first upclose look at some of the destruction. And everywhere you look, there are bricks and glass everywhere. You can see how powerful the blast was. Five buildings were effected. Across the street, all the windows blown out. In the building just next door, you can see the windows are gone, as well, and the roof has caved in. All you see is a cloud of smoke go up, and then you see the building just slowly crumble down. Reporter students at a nearby school were forced to evacuate. Several businesses damaged or destroyed, including one housing a World Class Vintage Porsche collection. The cars, like this stretch of downtown durham, ravaged. Just a stunning scene tonight. Tom llamas is live on the scene for us, and tom, i know youre hearing from officials tonight that Search And Rescue teams could actually be on the scene for days there . Reporter thats right, david. And actually right now, theyre using both video and listening devices, because theres a mound of rubble, they want to make sure they dont miss anything. Theyre also going to have to tunnel under that debris. Now david, weve covered a lot of home explosions, Gas Explosions here on World News Tonight, but ive never seen anything quite like this. The Brick Building exploded, sending bricks as big as this shooting out nearly 100 yards. One eye witness, david, told me it sounded like an earthquake. Just incredible. Tom llamas, our thanks to you for getting right to the scene there for us today. In the meantime, we turn next tonight to the other major headline unfolding right now. That major blizzard on the move at this hour. 20 states, a potentially historic storm. More than 1,000 Flights Canceled or delayed. In fact, more than 800 flights in denver alone. You can see snow and whiteout conditions. In fact, these images are from
watertown, south dakota, tonight. Interstate 29 there shut down for 100 miles. At this hour, the storm is gaining strength. Conditions worsening as it heads east. We have the track tonight, as we head into the night, and abcs Clayton Sandell is in the storm zone for us. Reporter tonight, spring might be on the calendar, but a powerful blizzard is bringing winter back to millions. In south dakota, cars off the road. Winds above 50 miles an hour creating whiteout conditions. A Highway Patrol shutting down more than 100 miles of interstate 29. The system even bringing thundersnow. On Interstate 90 in billings, montana, watch as an suv driving too fast nearly slams into a roadside assistance vehicle. At denvers airport, a major hub, more than 850 flights delayed or canceled. Colorados governor activating the National Guard in case drivers get stranded. To the south, the leading edge of the cold front spawning this gustnado near pueblo. And in the west, winds gusting
above 45 miles an hour fanning a fastmoving brush fire in palm springs, california, tuesday evening, prompting evacuations. Downing trees and power lines in l. A. County. And in southeast washington state, streets submerged in pullman. Firefighters using a frontend loader to rescue a man trapped after a rainsoaked creek jumped its banks. Clayton sandell with us live tonight from interstate 25, a white denver there behind you. And clayton, i know traffic is moving right now, but authorities are concerned this is getting worse as we head into the night and theyre nervous about drivers headed out . Reporter thats right, david. Officials here say they are taking no chances. Theyre already starting to shut down some major interstates here before conditions get so bad that they might be stranded in their cars. Youll remember last time, some people were trapped in their vehicles for more than 24 hours. David . Yes, we remember it well. Clayton sandell, our thanks to you. Rob marciano would be the first to tell you that this is not all that uncommon in april, snowstorms, but this one could be historic. Reporter and its really
strong, david. Also, its moving really slowly. Some of these Blizzard Warnings are going to be up for 36 hours, and a huge wind field with this. As far south as texas, could see winds of 50 miles an hour. Denver getting the worst of it tonight, as the low bottoms out in through kansas. Strong thunderstorms between chicago and st. Louis tomorrow, in the warm sector. The cold sector, blizzard conditions, one to two inch snowfall rates an hour. Look how slowly it moves, though. Thursday night into friday morning, still snowing in st. Cloud friday morning. And as far as snow totals go, one to two feet of snow for nebraska through minnesota. It doesnt feel like april, david. All right, were thinking of everyone in the storm zone tonight. Rob, thank you. Now, to the major headline involving the president s Attorney General tonight. What william barr said today on capitol hill about spying on the trump campaign. He said spying did occur, in fact, and he revealed he will set up a team to investigate. But democrats today wanted to know something else. How barr determined that there was no Obstruction Of Justice when Robert Mueller declined to answer that question. Mary bruce on the hill for it all. Reporter on capitol hill today, a startling declaration from the Attorney General,
bill barr, saying the u. S. Government spied on the trump campaign. I think spying on a Political Campaign is a big deal. So youre not youre not suggesting, though, that spying occurred . I dont well, i guess you could i think spying did occur. Yes, i think spying did occur. Reporter he appears to be talking about the fbis 2016 Surveillance Effort to determine whether any Trump Associates were involved with the russians. The big question, barr says, was it warranted . Today, he acknowledged hes seen no specific evidence of wrongdoing. But hes putting together a team to find out for sure. I am not saying that improper surveillance occurred. Im saying that i am concerned about it and looking into it. Reporter the president has been demanding this, an investigation into the russia investigation. And this was an attempted coup. This was an attempted takedown of a president and we beat them. We beat them. Reporter democrats today alarmed by barrs announcement, questioning his independence. You think hes doing the bidding of the president here . Yes, im sure this is exactly what the president wanted him to say. Reporter theyre also frustrated that, for now, the Attorney General wont discuss how he reached his own conclusion that the president did not obstruct justice, even though special counsel Robert Mueller did not make a determination. Mr. Attorney general, the thing is, you put this out there. I mean, the president went out and tweeted the next day that he was exonerated. That wasnt based on anything in the Mueller Report with respect to Obstruction Of Justice. That was based on your assessment. All right, so, this was day two. Mary bruce was there for it all. And mary, there is also news tonight on the president s tax returns. Today was the deadline, House Democrats had demanded six years worth of returns. They gave the irs until today to respond. No tax returns. And heres what the president said today. I would love to give them, but im not going to do it while im under audit. Its very simple. Remember, i got elected last time, the same exact issue, with the same intensity, which wasnt very much, because frankly, the people dont care. Mary, the president quite clear there, he said americans dont care, last time, he got elected. He said hes still under audit, so, what now . Reporter well, david, democrats are not giving up, but they are being methodical about this. They are not going to rush to subpoena. Instead, theyre going to double down on this request. They seem to be playing the long game here, laying the groundwork in case they need to fight this in court. David . Mary bruce with us again tonight. Thank you, mary. We turn now to the deadly bus crash today. The Truck Barrelling through an intersection and right into a school bus and other vehicles. Dash cam video tonight showing the collision. You see the school bus right there, and then that truck comes right into the intersection, slamming into several vehicles, in fact. It happened in clinton, maryland. The driver of a car was killed, trapped between the bus and the truck. Several others hurt, including students. Abcs david kerley covers transportation. Reporter its a bus carrying High Schoolers around 6 00 in
the morning, when out of nowhere, a semitruck plows into that bus. And its difficult to see, but between the bus and the truck is a car that is squeezed, crushed between the two larger vehicles. The female driver in that car was killed. Two students, the bus driver and three others were taken to the hospital with nonlife threatening injuries. I do want to confirm that the students on that bus, and the driver, are okay. Reporter police would not confirm what the video appears to show. That the Tractor Trailer runs through a red light at the intersection, trying to turn, but barrelling into that car as it overturns and then into the bus. The ntsb does not plan to investigate this accident. But the federal government does tell us that on average, there are ten Deadly School bus crashes every year on our roads. David . David kerley with us tonight. David, thank you. Next, to new reporting tonight on that Deadly Police standoff. We have reported on the body cam here before. Those two officers called to a home in suburban atlanta. The officers running up to that
home, then coming under fire when they got to the front door. Both were shot, both survived. And tonight, right here, we hear from them. We have now learned what they thought they were responding to. Heres abcs steve osunsami. Ah reporter the two surburban Atlanta Police officers seen in this body camera Video Suffering gunshot wounds during a routine police call are telling our station in atlanta tonight that they thought they were responding to a woman in labor, but the pregnant woman was already dead. As soon as i kicked in the door, about two seconds later, the guy started putting rounds on me. Shots fired, shots fired. Reporter inside the house, 47yearold Anthony Bailey was promising to shoot them dead, too, if they didnt leave. Do not come in here. I got a lot of shots. Reporter officer keegan merritt, seen here, was shot in the hand. It stunned me, but i knew that he could see me and i couldnt see him and i was in a bad spot. Reporter officer taylor webb was shot in the chest and the hip, and was hiding in the garage before he was set free. After a 17hour standoff, no one
inside the home survived, including the gunman, who police say killed himself. The worst thing that happened over the entire incident is that civilians lost their lives. Reporter the officers tonight say theyre glad that they were the ones who showed up first and not firefighters. David . All right, steve, thank you. And now, to the Anger Boiling On capitol hill today, aimed squarely at the Pharmaceutical Companies hiking prices over something Many Americans need, insulin. The house energy and Commerce Committee grilling representatives from three of the nations Biggest Pharmaceutical Companies over skyrocketing prices. I dont know how you people sleep at night. I just want you to know, your days are numbered. The executives answering that the prices are high partly because they say they need to spend more money to Research Better drugs. We turn to an alarming headline tonight about a beloved High School Principal who underwent surgery to donate bone marrow to a stranger. A little boy in need of help. That principal then suffering complications and dying. Heres abcs linsey davis. Reporter One Final Act Of Kindness is being remembered tonight, as this new Jersey High School grieves the loss of their principal. Dr. Derrick nelson, just 44 years old, died unexpectedly over the weekend after recently donating bone marrow. Even if you never even spoke a word with him, his impact was felt the moment you walked in as a freshman. Reporter according to the Westfield High School newspaper, nelson was contacted by a bone marrow program, telling him he was a match for a 14yearold boy in france. Nelson reportedly telling the paper at the time, if its just a little bit of pain for a little bit of time that can give someone years of joy, its all worth it. His fiance telling abc news that he suffered complications after his donation, saying, his last kind and generous act on this earth, in giving so someone else might live, is a true testament to who he was. And david, doctors stress that complications from bone marrow donations are extremely rare. Nelson is survived by his 6yearold daughter. David . All right, linsey davis
tonight. Thank you, linsey. And tonight, the pentagon has now released the names of the three u. S. Marines killed in afghanistan. They are Corporal Robert hendriks from new york, Sergeant Benjamin hines from york, pennsylvania, and Staff Sergeant christopher slutman, the New York City firefighter who we reported on last night here. Their convoy was hit by a Roadside Bomb on monday near Bagram Air Force base. The taliban is claiming responsibility. There is still