Restaurant hostess: 'I thought I was going to die' - KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff

Restaurant hostess: 'I thought I was going to die'

Posted: Updated:
By DeAnn Smith, Digital Content Manager - email
By Alan Shope, Multimedia Journalist - bio | email
By Laura McCallister, Multimedia Producer - email

  • Heartland News

  • Monday, May 20 2013 11:39 PM EDT2013-05-21 03:39:58 GMT
    When preparing for a job interview, you know you need to dress the part, prepare and practice answering questions.But sometimes what you're not saying could cost you the job.Joyce Hunter said employers often make decisions about job seekers within 30 seconds of meeting them, or even before they shake hands. In addition to body language, you should be sure you're appearance is looking neat, tidy and well-dressed.Copyright 2013 KFVS. All rights reserved.
    When preparing for a job interview, you know you need to dress the part, prepare and practice answering questions.But sometimes what you're not saying could cost you the job.Joyce Hunter said employers often make decisions about job seekers within 30 seconds of meeting them, or even before they shake hands. In addition to body language, you should be sure you're appearance is looking neat, tidy and well-dressed.Copyright 2013 KFVS. All rights reserved.

  • Monday, May 20 2013 11:00 PM EDT2013-05-21 03:00:58 GMT
    (Source: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet)
    About 80 citizens from Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri attended a public meeting tonight to provide input for a study on the US 51 Ohio River Bridge between Wickliffe, Ky., and Cairo, Ill.The long-range study is to determine how to best assure the viability of the US 51 crossing that also carries US 60 and US 62 across the Ohio River. A second meeting will be held Tuesday night in LaCenter, KY. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is looking at about a half-dozen alternatives that range from a...
    About 80 citizens from Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri attended a public meeting tonight to provide input for a study on the US 51 Ohio River Bridge between Wickliffe, Ky., and Cairo, Ill.The long-range study is to determine how to best assure the viability of the US 51 crossing that also carries US 60 and US 62 across the Ohio River. A second meeting will be held Tuesday night in LaCenter, KY. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is looking at about a half-dozen alternatives that range from a...

  • Monday, May 20 2013 9:50 PM EDT2013-05-21 01:50:12 GMT
    Authorities are investigating a shooting death that happened Friday night in Benton, Illinois. 
    Authorities are investigating a shooting death that happened Friday night in Benton, Illinois. 
    •   
KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -

A JJ's restaurant hostess said she thought she was going to die when an explosion rocked her restaurant Tuesday night, and she is frantic with fear for a missing friend.

"I thought I was going to die. Honestly, I thought I was trapped in there," said Deidre Estes, who has been working at JJ's for 14 years.

Estes said crews had been out investigating a strong gas odor in the area. She said just before 6 p.m. they suggested shutting down the restaurant. As a result, no patrons were inside the restaurant at the time of the explosion, but employees weren't frantically trying to leave either.

"They said, 'Well, because of the smell in here, you guys should really leave,' so that's why we were packing up to leave. They didn't make it sound like you need to get out this second, so we were kind of taking our time, putting things away, locking up the register and then, boom! And everything was black."

Estes said the explosion occurred just a matter of minutes after the last patron left. She was left stunned as debris rained down around her.

"I saw the flames, and I was scared I was going to burn up. And then with all my might, I got this strength and lifted the rubble off," she recalled.

In her panic, she screamed over and over for help.

She said her chef tried to get to her but couldn't. The chef suffered critical injuries.

"To the right of me I saw one of the waiters. And he took my hand and just with all my might I lifted up, I don't know if it was a ceiling tile or walls or what," she said. "And we just made our way through the rubble and just climbed out."

But getting out of the rubble was difficult.

"It was pitch black in there. You couldn't see anything," she said. "And finally I saw a little glimpse of light, so we just followed that and I just kept saying, 'Don't let go of my hand.'"

Another hostess who was working at the time is missing, and Estes is frantic with worry about her.

A man is also missing. Police said cadaver dogs have not located any bodies in the remains of the demolished building, but searchers will return at daybreak Wednesday.

KCTV5's Alan Shope interviewed Estes after she was treated at St. Luke's Medical Center for her injuries.

Estes later posted on Facebook about her ordeal.

"I am so grateful to be alive! I was inside when it happened. Thank you Drew Latourneau for pulling me out of the rubble. Thanks also to the nice neighborhood girl who drove Lindsay and me to the hospital. This is a tragedy I will never forget. Prayers please for me friend Megan, who is still missing," she said.

Copyright 2013 KCTV (Meredith Corp.)  All rights reserved.