A gas line explosion in Maryville, Illinois, severely injured a construction worker, who suffered burns on over 70% of his body (St. Louis Today). The explosion happened at a construction site for a new subdivision called Villas of Nottingham, which is being developed by Keystone Construction & Development. Keller Construction in Edwardsville is the site contractor, according to the development’s website.
The video below contains chilling images of the resulting fire. Parents of young children may want to make sure their little ones will not be able to see the video before playing it.
After the explosion, Ameren Illinois workers shut off the gas. In the video below, Ameren’s Sr. Director of Division Operations says there was a natural gas leak caused by a ruptured high-pressure main, which was ignited, causing the explosion are resulting fireball. He said the leak was not caused by Ameren Illinois, a gas company based in Collinsville, IL. The company says the gas line was marked, according to news reports.
The preliminary findings suggest an excavating machine broke the underground pipe at about 1:45 p.m, according to news reports.
In the video below, Maryville Police Chief Rob Carpenter describes the gas explosion that injured a construction worker and caused the evacuation of a Maryville neighborhood.
Jim Harrison, a Maryville resident living in the Nottingham development, said he saw Maryville Police Officer Justin Krausz carry the injured man away from fire.
- “Construction Worker Severely Burned in Explosion in Maryville.” St. Louis Today. Accessed at http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/illinois/construction-worker-severely-burned-in-explosion-in-maryville/article_ec1f955a-a0ab-5378-99fd-dfff17804f1a.html.