Woman in Brentwood explosion dies of burns
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The scene of a fatal explosion at 12 Prospect Dr. in Brentwood. (Aug. 14, 2012) Credit: James Carbone
Last week's Brentwood house explosion that killed a toddler claimed a second life Tuesday night, authorities said.
Patricia Salegna-Maqueda, 46, of North Babylon, an insurance agent who had been inspecting the basement after a flood claim, died in the intensive care unit of Stony Brook University Hospital, Suffolk police said.
Her family had said the State Farm insurance agent had to be sedated after being "pretty badly burned" when the house at 12 Prospect Dr. blew up on Aug. 14. The blast also killed 18-month-old Rah-quan Palmer and injured 17 others, police said.
Just before noon that day, propane leaked from two exterior 200-pound tanks into the house. Investigators said they are not sure what sparked the propane.
Alice Salegna, 75, had described her former daughter-in-law last week as a "wonderful person . . . she works a lot and takes good care of her children."
Her death came on the same day that family, friends and neighbors held a candlelight vigil for Rah-quan. Among the more than 30 people in attendance were the little boy's parents, Rashamel Palmer and Christina Morgan, both of whom also were injured and treated.
Services for Rah-quan are scheduled for Wednesday morning at Prayer Tabernacle Church of God in Christ in Amityville, with burial to follow at Amityville Cemetery.
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