Took these two pics as I was running for my life. I was 150yds away from the explosion. Ran to the back and crossed the ditch but there was no gate. A scaffold builder had some pliers and cut the fence. The initial explosion shook everything around us and knocked 2 of our guys to the ground from 150yds away. After the explosion was a jet engine sound and when I looked I saw the fire and noticed what the jet engine sound was... A 10-12" pipe spraying fire on top of fire as if it was a water hose. Electrical wires were sparking and arcing all over the place. We made it out to the hwy and noticed a cloud of chemicals in the distance so after walking a half mile, we walked 2 miles further away being herded like cattle by the cops.
They let me back in the plant today to get my truck... Thankfully because I had 3 pigs in ice chests in the back bleeding them out. I snapped a couple more pics that are hard to see but the piping and cable trays were tangled and out of place and everything else was charred
We were escorted in by staye police and a williams employee. the following is what he told us around 10:00 am this morning.
One confirmed fatality on site and 77 injured. The one confirmed on site was described by his coworker as a smart eager young guy that wanted to learn and was always out in the field. 29yr old Zachary Green was married and had a little girl.
The second fatality succumbed to burns over 90% of his body at 1:00pm today. 47yr old Scott Thrower is survived by his wife and little girl. He was described as the smartest operated they had. Just under 20yrs of experience and knew the plant like the back of his hand. He was found on fire crawling from the explosion and air-meded to the emergency room.
The fact that only 2 are dead and 77 injured is actually remarkable. 830 some odd people in a small plant and the explosion area was the most worked spot. Prayers are needed for the families and people both effected and involved.
