UPDATE: Coast Guard cables pulled from sand at Salty Brine

By News Staff

Reporting by Ana Bottary

abottary@abc6.com

UPDATE: Two abandoned Coast Guard cables were pulled from the sand as crews continued to dig up the area Tuesday. More details are expected at an afternoon news conference.

A new discovery was made Monday as crews investigated the Narragansett beach where an explosion occurred Saturday, injuring a woman from Connecticut.

Investigators, coordinating with National Grid, spent the day inspecting an underground cable located near the site of the blast, just a few feet under the surface of the sand at Salty Brine State Beach.

Crews are trying to determine whether or not it had anything to do with the explosion that sent 60-year-old Kathleen Danise to the hospital with an injured shoulder.

The bomb squad and multiple other authorities combed the area Saturday and ruled out that it was not an explosive device that caused the blast, and there is no evidence of a malicious attack.

Many who are familiar with the beach are shocked at Monday’s the findings.

"It's very surprising.” Courtney McCourt was working Saturday, the day of the explosion, saying she’s worked right across from the beach for more than 20 years and has no knowledge of the underground cable. 

 "I didn't know it was there… That's kind of disturbing, I guess," she said.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office continues to lead the investigation, though National Grid was on scene to inspect the cable determining that it is not their property.

Monday evening, they marked off how far the wire extends underground and found that the cable extends off the beach and into the parking lot. 

The beach has remained open during the investigation, which not all agreed with.

"I think the beach should be closed if they have no idea what's going on. Why are they even letting people on the beach? They shouldn't be,” said beach-goer, Pauline Dagesse, of Narragansett.

National Grid and the State Fire Marshal’s Office will continue to look into the source of the cable, and if it has anything to do with Saturday’s explosion.

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