Tanker Operator Killed in Chemical Explosion Near Highway 59

A woman died following a chemical explosion at an industrial site along Highway 59 on April 12, according to the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office, Oil City News reports.

Authorities identified the victim as 47-year-old Denice Downing, a tanker operator who was on-site near mile marker 78 to transport a mixture of hydrochloric acid and water used in a well operation. Sheriff’s Office Investigations Cpl. Josh Knittel said Downing was seated inside the cab of the tanker when a possible chemical reaction began building pressure inside the vehicle.

As workers began evacuating the area in response to the signs of a reaction, the tanker exploded. The blast was powerful enough to split the vehicle in half and send the sections approximately 100 feet apart. Downing was killed instantly in the explosion, according to Campbell County Coroner Paul Wallem. An autopsy is scheduled to determine the official cause of death.

One other worker was near the tanker at the time of the explosion but was unharmed. The damage from the incident was limited to the tanker and a nearby flatbed work truck.

Investigators are still working to determine the precise cause of the explosion. One theory under consideration is that chemical residue from a previous load may have reacted with the hydrochloric acid mixture. Further testing is underway to confirm the cause.

The incident remains under investigation.