UNTIY TWP., Pa. — The Pittsburgh Steelers invited the football teammates of Keegan Clontz, the 12-year-old Plum boy that died in the tragic Rustic Ridge gas explosion last weekend, to their training camp practice at St. Vincent College on Thursday.
Clontz played for the Plum Midget Football Association, and had been set to enter junior high this fall for the Plum Mustangs. Clontz wore No. 40 for the Plum Mustangs youth team, and they hung his jersey at practice this week. The team had been scheduled to start its season last Saturday, but will instead play its first game at West Mifflin this weekend.
He and his father, Casey, were among the six people killed when a home in the Rustic Ridge neighborhood of Plum exploded, caught fire to two others and damaged several more. The Clontz family lived down the street from the home that exploded.
Like most Pittsburgh-area residents, the Clontz family were Steelers fans. Casey Clontz had a Steelers logo tattoo on his leg, and the family submitted a photo of Casey and Keegan in the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room to our news partners at WPXI.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to all of those affected by this horrible tragedy. The loss and grief felt by all of us is overwhelming,” said Plum Borough Council President Mike Doyle. “Thank you to everybody in the community and surrounding area for everything you’ve done for us during this tragedy. Our borough will continue to be here as a resource for this community. Whatever our residents need — whether it be services, grief counseling, food, water or anything else — will provide. Please reach out to us for any assistance that may be needed.”
Allegheny County officials are still investigating the cause of the explosion.
A Go Fund Me page has been set up for the two surviving members of the Clontz family.