A second worker died late Monday from injuries sustained in an explosion at the CRU Railcar Services in Elmendorf, Texas railcar cleaning facility last week. The residual crude oil exploded while cleaning the interior of the tanker.
Rogelio Noriega, 42, was critically injured in the blast. He was airlifted to San Antonio Military Medical Center for treatment prior to his death.
His death follows that of Gary Garza, 38, who was trapped inside the tanker after the explosion at about 12:55 p.m. Friday at the Alamo Junction Rail Park in the 16400 block of Old Corpus Christi Road.
Fire Chief Rober Hogan of Bexar County Emergency Services District 10 said the two men had been cleaning a railcar when it exploded. Several other people were injured in the blast.
Investigators are still working to determine what caused the blast.
The CRU Railcar Services group writes in their web pages:
We Believe in a Safe and Efficient Work Environment
Our employees are highly trained and fully equipped to handle our clients’ needs. We follow a strict proprietary process that includes railcar de-gassing, hydroblasting, washing, and steaming. Our cleaning certificates include black light inspections.
I guess these two dead workers beg to differ. Of course this is messy Texas. They cut corners all the time so they can make money- and the workers pay the ultimate price.
ELMENDORF, Texas –
Two people were killed when a rail car tanker caught fire and exploded Friday afternoon at the Alamo Junction Rail Park outside of Elmendorf.
A crew at CRU Railcar Services was cleaning the residual crude oil from the tanker at the time of the explosion. Gary Garza, 39, was inside the tanker when it exploded. Garza and Roger Noriega, 42, were killed in the explosion.
Noriego was air-lifted to Brooks Army Medical Center with severe burns and a cable impaled into his side. He died Monday night at the hospital.
Four other workers were transported to SAMMC with burns.
Chief Robert Hogan with Emergency Services District 10 says the explosion happened just before 1 pm.
By the time emergency crews arrived, about six minutes after the initial call, Hogan says the fire had almost extinguished on its own.
“The police called me and they say something exploded. I came and they aren’t letting me see my son. I know nothing about what happened or how they are,” said Garza's mother at the scene.
No word yet on the identities of the other workers.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration is on the scene conducting an investigation.