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Two injured in explosion at Sikeston business
SIKESTON — Two employees were injured following an explosion early Wednesday at a Sikeston business.
At 7:12 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, Sikeston Department of Public Safety responded to Potashnick Transportation Inc., or PTI, located at 411 Lynual, in reference to a reported fire inside the structure with people inside, according to Capt. Derick Wheetley with Sikeston Department of Public Safety.
Upon officers’ arrival, they reported there was a fire inside the shop and two subjects were severely injured, Wheetley said, adding Engine 1, Engine 3, Ladder 3, Tower 1 responded along with off-duty personnel. EMS crews from New Madrid County and South Scott County responded for medical treatment.
“The first arriving crew went into immediate care for the two patients while the second arriving crew went into extinguishment and salvage and overhaul operations,” Wheetley said. “Upon EMS’ arrival, both male patients were loaded, treated and transported to Saint Francis Medical Center for severe burns and trauma.”
The first employee received an open fracture to the head and burns to the body. The second employee received burns to the lower extremities. Both are employees of Potashnick Transportation Inc., and their names are being withheld at this time for privacy, Wheetley said.
Fire Marshal/Sgt. James Whitley determined the cause to be from the subjects cutting on an empty 55-gallon drum with a cutting torch that contained explosive vapors.
“During their work, the drum caught fire and immediately exploded, causing the drum to strike one subject in the head,” Wheetley said. “The shop area received moderate fire damage. Fire personnel were able to quickly extinguish the fire to prevent further damage to the business. We would like to thank New Madrid County EMS, South Scott County EMS and Sikeston DPS Officers for the quick response and immediate treatment of the injured employees.”
Representatives with PTI released a statement via its social media following the incident Wednesday morning.
“The PTI Family has been rocked by an accident this morning; there was an explosion causing serious injuries to two of our members, Jason Thomas and Tony Glass,” PTI officials said Wednesday. “...Please keep our guys in your thoughts and prayers.”
Both Glass and Thomas were stabilized and transported to the burn unit at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis, according to PTI.
“What we now understand is that when the explosion occurred, the quick heroic actions of fellow PTI colleagues, Michael Meahan, Grant Nole and and Tammy Draper were invaluable to the situation,” PTI officials said. “Michael, risking his own well being, pulled the badly injured Jason from the flames, while Tammy and Grant took care of Tony. Using her firefighting training, Tammy was able to extinguish the flames burning both the barrel and the shop door. Huge props and acknowledgement to their own selfless actions.”