MARCH 28, 2015
MORGANTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA (WPVI)
One worker was killed and two others were injured in an
explosion at a Berks County plant Friday night.
The name of the company is Titanium Metals Corporation (Timet).
The explosion happened just before 11:00 p.m. at the Timet
Plant located at 900 Hemlock Road, Morgantown Business Park, in Morgantown, PA
19543.
Multiple people called 911 when
the deadly explosion happened. When fire
crews arrived, they found a worker trapped under a piece of equipment in the
plant.
27-year-old Jacob Lopez of Ephrata was killed in the blast. He was pronounced dead at 12:22 a.m. on Saturday
by Berks Deputy Coroner Christopher Chesonis.
The three injured workers were transported to an area
hospital in unknown condition.
Township police officer Matthew Menna said the blast
happened in the melt shop of the plant, but there was no fire by the time
officers arrived.
The investigation is being led by Pennsylvania State Police,
the fire marshal and OSHA.
Timet is a manufacturer of titanium based metal products. Their corporate headquarters are in Exton, PA.
This was the second major emergency in
less than two years at Timet, which was the scene of a three-alarm fire in June
2013.
About 200 firefighters from two dozen companies in Berks,
Chester and Montgomery counties responded to that blaze, which state police
ruled accidental. Investigators said it caused about $3.5 million in damage.
TIMET developed or co-developed most titanium alloys in use
today, and continues to innovate to meet changing customer needs. From
traditional discrete mill products to customized near-net shapes to kits with
finished components ready for the assembly line.
