Many residents on Mountain Avenue in Hawthorne were shocked to hear one of their neighbors died as a result of the Manhattan steam pipe explosion.

Wednesday?s explosion slowed the evening rush hour commute, frightened hundreds of New York and New Jersey residents and injured at least 16 people. It also claimed the life of 51-year-old Lois Baumerich, of Hawthorne. Baumerich worked for Pfizer and her office was close to the explosion site. Baumerich suffered a heart attack during the incident and later died.

Many neighbors describe Baumerich as career-driven. They say she was very close to her five siblings and loved to garden.

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