An explosion at the Seneca Petroleum plant in Lemont, Illinois, has killed one worker and left another injured. According to NBC 5 Chicago, the Will County Sheriff's office believes that the explosion occurred in an asphalt tank at the plant. Aside from causing some power lines to come down, the explosion and subsequent fire do not constitute a “hazmat situation” and pose no danger to the public.
The victim has been identified by the Will County Coroner's Office as 25-year-old Dru A. Worker. According to ABC 7 Chicago, Worker and the injured man were both on-site contractors with M&J Industrial Services.
In a statement, M&J representatives said, "We are deeply saddened to confirm that one of our team members died and one was injured today while working at a customer site in Lemont. We are heartbroken and devastated by this tragedy. Although the equipment involved was not owned or operated by our company, we are cooperating with federal and state authorities in their investigation. Our prayers are with the family and friends of both team members during this difficult time."
WGN 9 Chicago spoke to April Fowlkes, a worker at the nearby Citgo plant. She said, “I was working across the street in the tank farm and I heard the explosion and it shook the tank, so we were all coming out trying to see what was going on. I look across the way and there’s flames coming out of the top of the tank at Seneca Petroleum.”