APRIL 25, 2015
BROWNFIELD, TEXAS
23-year-old man still critical after Brownfield propane tank
explosion.
A 23-year-old man remained in critical condition Friday
evening, as investigators continue trying to piece together what caused a fiery
accident along Highway 62 in Brownfield.
Although officials originally believed a collision between
two semis caused a propane tanker to explode about 7:30 a.m. Thursday in
Brownfield, Police Chief Tony Serbantez said officers are still investigating.
“All I can say right now, because we’re still in the
preliminary investigation, is it didn’t appear that both semis had any contact
with one another,” he said.
After the accident, though, both vehicles were engulfed in
flames. The driver of one semi, Robert Clifford Melvin, 58, of Lubbock died
from his injuries. The driver of the other semi, Raymond Edward Neal, Jr., 45,
of Alabama, was not injured, Serbantez said.
Aaron Foshee, 23, of Brownfield, who was in a third vehicle,
got caught up in the accident. University Medical Center officials said Foshee
was still in critical condition Friday evening.
After the accident, Serbantez said hazardous-material crews
were called to the scene of the flash fire since the propane tanker was still holding
about 1,000 gallons of propane. About
8,000 gallons of propane had vanished in the explosion and fire.
Officers began working the scene Thursday afternoon.
“Once they cleaned all that out, the tanker was moved not
too far from the area to let it ventilate it more. We investigated the scene a
little bit more,” Serbantez said. “About 10 p.m (Thursday) we gathered what we
needed and TxDOT then took over and repaired the highway.”
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BROWNFIELD, TEXAS MAN STILL CRITICAL AFTER DEADLY PROPANE EXPLOSION
APRIL 24, 2015
BROWNFIELD, TX (KCBD)
A Brownfield man remains in critical condition Friday after
suffering severe burns in a propane explosion on Thursday.
Two semi trucks collided on the highway just before 8 a.m.
Robert Melvin, 58, of Lubbock died on the scene.
Melvin was driving a semi hauling a tanker filled with
propane. Authorities tell us he was northbound, when it appears he swerved to
avoid another semi in front of him. The trucks collided and the tanker then
exploded.
Investigators say the second semi, driven by Robert Neal
Jr., 45 from Alabama, may have been making a U-turn. Neal was not injured, and
investigators are still working to determine which lane he was in, and whether
he signaled.
Aaron Foshee, 23 of Brownfield also suffered critical burns
when the tanker exploded. Authorities say he was in his pick-up in the
southbound lanes when the explosion happened. Foshee remains hospitalized at
University Medical Center in critical condition.
U.S. Highway 62/82 north of Brownfield is now back open to
traffic.
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1 PERSON DEAD, 1 CRITICAL CONDITION, FLASH FIRE NEAR
BROWNFIELD AFTER TWO SEMIS COLLIDE
APRIL 24, 2015
BROWNFIELD, TEXAS
Two semi trucks collided just before 8:00 am outside of
Brownfield along Highway 62/82 Thursday morning, causing a fire.
Eyewitnesses described not only a fire but also an explosion.
Officials said Robert Clifford Melvin, 58, of Lubbock, was driving a propane semi truck, and collided with another semi truck, causing the initial explosion. Melvin was pronounced dead on the scene.
Officials also said that a black pickup truck was involved in the explosion. The driver, 23-year-old Aaron Foshee of Brownfield was taken to University Medical Center Burn Center for treatment. Thursday evening Foshee remained in critical condition.
"Initially when it rolled over it had impingement into the tank and it released a tremendous amount of propane," Charles Addington, Chief of Wolfforth Hazmat and Fire said. "It had a flash fire and reached to probably around 100 yards out, and then had involvement of some signs and property."
DPS was called to the scene to help with traffic control, and emergency crews were called to assist Brownfield with moving the propane tank that was leaking.
Addington said when his team arrived, thousands of gallons of propane had already leaked from the tank.
"It was 9,000 gallons fully loaded, and when we got here there was probably 1,000 to 1,500 gallons left," Addington said. "We've been letting the vapors go during the day to keep it cool until we can stabilize the scene and get the accident taken care of."
Brownfield Police officers are investigating. Two different Hazmat teams were called and both residents and businesses nearby were evacuated as a precaution.
"We are very fortunate that the tank didn't rupture," Dennis Rowe, Chief of Brownfield Fire Department said. "Had it ruptured, we would be in a while lot bigger mess than we are in now. But by pulling all our resources together we handled it well. All the guys came together, worked well together, and got the job done."
Officials said Robert Clifford Melvin, 58, of Lubbock, was driving a propane semi truck, and collided with another semi truck, causing the initial explosion. Melvin was pronounced dead on the scene.
Officials also said that a black pickup truck was involved in the explosion. The driver, 23-year-old Aaron Foshee of Brownfield was taken to University Medical Center Burn Center for treatment. Thursday evening Foshee remained in critical condition.
"Initially when it rolled over it had impingement into the tank and it released a tremendous amount of propane," Charles Addington, Chief of Wolfforth Hazmat and Fire said. "It had a flash fire and reached to probably around 100 yards out, and then had involvement of some signs and property."
DPS was called to the scene to help with traffic control, and emergency crews were called to assist Brownfield with moving the propane tank that was leaking.
Addington said when his team arrived, thousands of gallons of propane had already leaked from the tank.
"It was 9,000 gallons fully loaded, and when we got here there was probably 1,000 to 1,500 gallons left," Addington said. "We've been letting the vapors go during the day to keep it cool until we can stabilize the scene and get the accident taken care of."
Brownfield Police officers are investigating. Two different Hazmat teams were called and both residents and businesses nearby were evacuated as a precaution.
"We are very fortunate that the tank didn't rupture," Dennis Rowe, Chief of Brownfield Fire Department said. "Had it ruptured, we would be in a while lot bigger mess than we are in now. But by pulling all our resources together we handled it well. All the guys came together, worked well together, and got the job done."
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Lubbock, Texas man dies after propane truck explodes in accident in Brownfield. Another driver of a car caught up in the explosion is critical
TWO TRACTOR-TRAILERS COLLIDE ON U.S. 62/82 AROUND 7:30 A.M.
APRIL 24, 2015
First responders battled the blaze created by a deadly
tanker truck explosion after a crash Thursday morning on U.S. 62/82 in
Brownfield.
BROWNFIELD — One person is confirmed dead after a propane
tanker exploded Thursday morning in Brownfield, said Cpl. John Gonzalez with
the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Robert Clifford Melvin, 58, of Lubbock died from his
injuries.
A collision between two tractor-trailers caused the
explosion about 7:30 a.m. The crash was barely inside Brownfield’s city limits,
on the north side of town on U.S. 62/82.
Both vehicles were engulfed in flames.
Driving southbound, an oncoming driver from Alabama got
caught in the explosion and was taken to Lubbock for medical treatment, said
Tony Serbantez, chief of police in Brownfield.
Hazardous-material crews were called to the scene, and the
tanker was holding about 1,000 gallons of propane, he said.
North- and southbound lanes of the freeway were closed near
Bynum Lane in Brownfield. The Texas Department of Transportation diverted
traffic to side streets.
No other information was available by late Thursday.