BENSON, Minn. (AP) - An explosion and fire rocked a plant where
corn is turned into ethanol Wednesday, killing one worker and
injuring another man, officials said.
Robert Olson, 20, was working near a storage tank filled with
40,000 gallons of corn mash when it exploded at Chippewa Valley
Ethanol Co., authorities said.
The tank was thrown about 75 feet and landed on a tanker truck
filled with ethanol, causing the fire.
Firefighters from 11 surrounding towns fought the blaze and
pumped water on rail cars to keep them cool, Sheriff Kenneth Hanson
said.
Troy Leonard was taken to a hospital with acid burns, according
to a hospital spokesman. He was reported in fair condition.
Authorities did not know what caused the storage tank to
explode. The blast occurred in the part of the plant where corn is
turned into mash, which is later processed into ethanol.
About 40 people work at the plant, which also produces alcohol
used for vodka and products such as hair spray and mouthwash. Olson
was a contractor with Lundin Construction of Hanley Falls.
Gary Klemm, who works at a nearby plant, said he saw the
explosion demolish the storage tank.
"I was coming down the road and I saw the top blow right off,"
Klemm said.
Benson is about 120 miles northwest of Minneapolis.
---
On the Net:
Chippewa Valley Ethanol: http://www.cvec.com/
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
corn is turned into ethanol Wednesday, killing one worker and
injuring another man, officials said.
Robert Olson, 20, was working near a storage tank filled with
40,000 gallons of corn mash when it exploded at Chippewa Valley
Ethanol Co., authorities said.
The tank was thrown about 75 feet and landed on a tanker truck
filled with ethanol, causing the fire.
Firefighters from 11 surrounding towns fought the blaze and
pumped water on rail cars to keep them cool, Sheriff Kenneth Hanson
said.
Troy Leonard was taken to a hospital with acid burns, according
to a hospital spokesman. He was reported in fair condition.
Authorities did not know what caused the storage tank to
explode. The blast occurred in the part of the plant where corn is
turned into mash, which is later processed into ethanol.
About 40 people work at the plant, which also produces alcohol
used for vodka and products such as hair spray and mouthwash. Olson
was a contractor with Lundin Construction of Hanley Falls.
Gary Klemm, who works at a nearby plant, said he saw the
explosion demolish the storage tank.
"I was coming down the road and I saw the top blow right off,"
Klemm said.
Benson is about 120 miles northwest of Minneapolis.
---
On the Net:
Chippewa Valley Ethanol: http://www.cvec.com/
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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