Current:Home > InvestOfficials identify 2 men killed in Idaho gas station explosion-LoTradeCoin
Officials identify 2 men killed in Idaho gas station explosion
View Date:2024-12-23 16:27:24
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Authorities have identified two people killed when a gas station exploded and started a fire in a remote Idaho town last week.
The Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office said Brandon Cook, 53, of Orofino and Wesley Lineberry, 62, of Pierce were both killed in the explosion at the Atkinson Distributing station in Cardiff on Sept. 11.
Two others were badly burned in the explosion and subsequent fire, and they remained hospitalized on Wednesday. Separate GoFundMe pages identified the injured as fuel tanker driver Donny Billeter and gas station attendant Roxann Hubbs.
A fuel tanker semi truck was in the process of filling the above-ground tanks at the station when the explosion happened just after 3 p.m., said Idaho State Fire Marshal Knute Sandahl. The blast destroyed the tanker and sent debris including truck parts, piping, pieces of the tank and chunks from the gas station building flying across an area about the size of a city block, Sandahl said.
Both the tanker truck driver and the gas station attendant were near the truck when the explosion occurred. The bodies of Lineberry and Cook were found just outside the gas station, but investigators have not yet confirmed if they were inside or outside the building when the disaster began, Sandahl said.
It’s not yet clear what caused the explosion, Sandahl said, and the National Transportation Safety Board and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are assisting in the investigation.
“We’re digging deep and it’s just going to take some time,” said Sandahl. “I’m hoping we’ll have something a little bit more definitive to release in October sometime.”
Some nearby buildings were also damaged by the explosion and fire, and the remaining fuel at the site has been an obstacle for investigators. A regional hazardous materials response team was called in to help mitigate the danger.
Gas station explosions are rare, Sandahl said.
“In my 19 years of being a state fire marshal here in Idaho, this is the first incident I’m aware of,” he said.
Offloading — the process of moving fuel from a tanker truck to a station’s storage tanks — increases the risk somewhat but is still typically a very safe process because the drivers follow specific procedures, he said.
“Quite honestly, I think the most dangerous thing is fueling up your vehicle while smoking or filling plastic gas cans in the back of your pickup truck,” which increases the risk of sparks from static electricity, Sandahl said. “As we know from high school chemistry, it’s actually the fumes that are volatile, and if there is a spark introduced, it can cause a problem.”
veryGood! (931)
Related
- Michigan soldier’s daughter finally took a long look at his 250 WWII letters
- Kim Kardashian Says She's Raising Her and Kanye West's 4 Kids By Herself
- Watch a rescuer’s cat-like reflexes pluck a kitten from mid-air after a scary fall
- Amazon Prime Video to stream Diamond Sports' regional networks
- Powerball winning numbers for Nov. 9 drawing: Jackpot rises to $92 million
- Why Dolly Parton Is a Fan of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Little Love Affair
- Amazon Prime Video to stream Diamond Sports' regional networks
- Quincy Jones' Cause of Death Revealed
- The charming Russian scene-stealers of 'Anora' are also real-life best friends
- Mark Zuckerberg Records NSFW Song Get Low for Priscilla Chan on Anniversary
Ranking
- Reds honor Pete Rose with a 14-hour visitation at Great American Ball Park
- Deion Sanders says he would prevent Shedeur Sanders from going to wrong team in NFL draft
- Lunchables get early dismissal: Kraft Heinz pulls the iconic snack from school lunches
- Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had a stroke earlier this month, is expected to make full recovery
- As CFP rankings punish SEC teams, do we smell bias against this proud and mighty league?
- American arrested in death of another American at luxury hotel in Ireland
- DWTS’ Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten Have the Best Reaction to Fans Hoping for a Romance
- What do nails have to say about your health? Experts answer your FAQs.
Recommendation
-
Stop What You're Doing—Moo Deng Just Dropped Her First Single
-
Judge sets date for 9/11 defendants to enter pleas, deepening battle over court’s independence
-
Get well, Pop. The Spurs are in great hands until your return
-
Caitlin Clark's gold Nike golf shoes turn heads at The Annika LPGA pro-am
-
Utah AD Mark Harlan rips officials following loss to BYU, claims game was 'stolen from us'
-
NYC bans unusual practice of forcing tenants to pay real estate brokers hired by landlords
-
GM recalls 460k cars for rear wheel lock-up: Affected models include Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac
-
Nicky Hilton Shares Her Christmas Plans With Paris, the Secret To Perfect Skin & More Holiday Gift Picks