A worker died tragically last Friday afternoon, when a railcar tanker exploded at the Alamo Junction Rail Park outside of Elmendorf in Bexar County, Texas.
Five other workers were injured in the accident, one critically.
Workers Cleaning Residual Oil When Railcar Tanker Exploded
The onsite tanker exploded shortly before 1:00 p.m., while a cleaning crew from CRU Railcar Services was working to remove residual crude oil from its interior.
The May 10th blast sent flames 30 feet into the air and prompted a response from a half-dozen fire departments, with the first arriving on scene just six minutes later.
“Upon arrival, the majority of the fire was out,” said Fire Chief Robert Hogan of Bexar County Emergency Services District 10, “It was a flash fire.”
Worker Died While Trapped in Burning Railcar Tanker
A 39-year-old worker died while trapped in the burning tanker. The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office recovered his body that afternoon.
“The police called me and they say something exploded,” the worker’s mother later told News4SA. “I came and they aren’t letting me see my son. I know nothing about what happened or how they are.”
Critically Injured Worker Impaled by Cable
A helicopter flew a critically injured man to the San Antonio Military Medical Center. In addition to severe burns, a cable had reportedly impaled his side.
Paramedics transferred four other workers to the Medical Center, where they were treated for burns and minor injuries.
A sixth person apparently suffered bumps and bruises in the rush to escape the flames, but declined help at the scene.
Elmendorf Railcar Tanker Explosion Remains Under Investigation
There’s no word yet on what might have caused last Friday’s railcar tanker explosion near Elmendorf.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the incident.
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