The Grand County Sheriff's Office, along with San Juan County Sheriff's Office, Grand County EMS, and Moab Valley Fire Department are responding to an incident down Highway 279 near the Intrepid Potash plant. Please avoid the area. We will provide an update when possible.
2:00 PM Update: The lead agency for the investigation into the explosion near the Intrepid Potash plant is going to be San Juan County. Grand County Sheriff's Office will remain on scene and provide assistance as long as necessary. All media and information requests need to contact San Juan County Sheriff's Office.
UPDATE FROM SAN JUAN SHERIFF'S OFFICE:
San Juan County Sheriffs Office
25 mins ·
Media Release 11/10/18
Industrial Accident
Potash Mine- South of Moab in Northern San Juan County
Today just after 12 O'clock noon, at the Potash Mine, three men were electrocuted when the industrial equipment they were operating touched a power line. Russell Helquist and Matthew Johnston died at the scene while the 3rd victim, Arthur Secrest, was found unconscious but breathing. He was flown to a medical facility in Salt Lake. All men were living in the Moab area. The incident is still under investigation. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of these good men.
November 10, 2018
SAN JUAN County, Utah, (Gephardt Daily) —
Two men were killed and a third critically injured in an industrial accident at the Intrepid Potash Mine in Moab early Saturday afternoon.
According to a statement by the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, the accident happened when industrial equipment the men were operating came in contact with a power line.
“Russell Helquist and Matthew Johnston died at the scene while the 3rd victim, Arthur Secrest, was found unconscious but breathing,” the sheriff’s office statement said. “He was flown to a medical facility in Salt Lake. All men were living in the Moab area. The incident is still under investigation. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of these good men.”
Crews from multiple agencies responded to what was first reported as an explosion at about 12:06 p.m. near the Intrepid Potash Plant.
The Grand County Sheriff Office tweeted on Saturday afternoon that they were responding to the scene, as were the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, Grand County EMS and the Moab Fire Department.
Intrepid Potash, a fertilizer plant, is located on Highway 279, west of the Colorado River.
People in the area are asked to steer clear of the location while emergency crews are on scene.
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Intrepid is a self-proclaimed leader in the utilization of solar evaporation production, one of the lowest-cost, environmentally friendly production methods for potash. With three solar solution facilities in Moab and Wendover, Utah and Carlsbad, New Mexico, Intrepid’s southwestern location affords certain logistical advantages given the moderate climate and easy access to trucking and rail.
Intrepid operates three solar evaporation mines in Wendover and Moab, Utah and Carlsbad, New Mexico. Solar evaporation ponds provide one of the safest, lowest cost, environmentally friendly production methods for potash and salt. Our southwestern locations have the advantages of proximity to western markets and an arid climate, ensuring minimal weather-related delivery days by truck or rail.
Intrepid also operates an underground mine in Carlsbad, New Mexico for the extraction of langbeinite, the naturally-occurring mineral we sell as Intrepid Trio. Langbeinite, K2Mg2(SO4)3, is a unique geological material found only in a few places in the world. Highly prized as an all-natural fertilizer with international demand, Intrepid’s mine in Carlsbad sits on one of the world’s largest known reserves of langbeinite.