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Father's 911 Call After Monroe Car Bombing

MONROE (WWJ) - We're hearing the emotional 911 call from the man who was hurt in a suspected car bombing in Monroe near I-75 Tuesday. 42-year old Toledo-area attorney Erik Chappell called police after his van exploded and caught fire, injuring him and his two sons ages 13 and 11.

He describes the injuries to his children's legs and buttocks, and says he needs medical help on the scene immediately.

"I've got two significant leg injuries. One to the bottom left injured, his bottom left leg and then one to his left buttocks that are chewed up pretty good," Chappell told a 911 dispatcher. "Deep tissue wounds, they are bleeding. I need someone here now."

Federal investigators are trying to determine what happened. Who put a bomb in the car - and why. Investigators from the Michigan State Police, Monroe and ATF are all working around the clock on this case. ATF Special Agent Donald Dawkins says there are no suspects and no one has been questioned so far.

As for what could have caused the explosion to the Chappell's vehicle, Dawkins says, "We don't know and that's why we're trying to kind of put together the pieces, devise what we have and we'll get a better determination on what it was and how it functioned. That we don't know yet and that's a critical part of the investigation," he says.

There's a $10,000 reward being offered by federal investigators for the tip that helps them solve the case. Chappell's friends and colleagues say they don't know why someone would target him.

The Blade newspaper in Toledo obtained the recording of Chappell's 911 call. Listen here.

Car bomb E. Elm near I-75 - Monroe, MI by monroenews on YouTube
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