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Chemical Reactor Rupture Suspected In Fatal Lab Explosion, Safety Board Says

Safety Board Releases Preliminary Findings

POSTED: Friday, December 28, 2007
UPDATED: 9:12 pm EST December 28, 2007

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board on Friday announced preliminary results of its investigation, saying investigators believe the T2 Laboratory's chemical reactor ruptured.

More than 100 firefighters and every hazardous-materials unit in Jacksonville battled what a spokesman called a "hellish inferno" that followed the Dec. 19 explosion.

Pieces of the plant's reactor were found as far as a quarter-mile away from the Northside chemical plant, according to investigators.

Investigators said they believe the reactor ruptured during the production of a gasoline additive.

The blast killed Robert Scott Gallagher; Charles Budds Bolchoz, 48; Karey Renard Henry, 35; and Parrish Lamar Ashley, 36.

Fourteen other people were hospitalized for chemical exposure or their injuries after the blast.

Gallagher, the co-owner of the business, was laid to rest Friday morning as those who knew the 49-year-old gathered to honor his life.

Services were held at the Southside United Methodist Church.

Meanwhile, CSB remained in Jacksonville, interviewing survivors of the explosion.

A formal briefing is expected to be held next week. Chemical contamination of the site was being cleaned up.

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