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Owner killed in explosion

The Inter-Mountain photo by Tim MacVean Chief Deputy B.M. Carpenter, of the Barbour County Sheriff’s Department, speaks with officers on scene in Barbour County following an explosion at Midland Resource Recovery.

The Inter-Mountain photo by Tim MacVean Chief Deputy B.M. Carpenter, of the Barbour County Sheriff's Department, speaks with officers on scene in Barbour County following an explosion at Midland Resource Recovery.

PHILIPPI — After further investigation of an explosion in Barbour County on Wednesday, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports that one of the two individuals killed was the owner of the gas company.

An explosion at Midland Resource Recovery Inc., a gas company located on Barbour County Highway in Moatsville, killed two individuals and left one other injured.

U.S. Department of Labor representative Leni Uddyback-Fortson explained that the facility where the explosion took place cleans and decommissions old odorant tanks from gas companies.

“The owner and two employees were reportedly in the process of decommissioning an odorant tank,” Uddyback-Fortson reported. “An employee and the owner of Midland Resources Recovery Inc. received fatal injuries when a tank they were working on exploded, and the third employee received serious injuries and was transported to the hospital.”

Investigating officer Chief Deputy B.M. Carpenter, of the Barbour County Sheriff’s Department, said the third individual who was injured in the explosion was life flighted to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.

On Wednesday, the injured individual was said to be in critical condition, and Uddyback-Fortson reported on Thursday that the individual was believed to still be in the hospital.

Identities of the individuals are still not yet being released.

Uddyback-Fortson added that OSHA began its investigation on Wednesday and continued throughout Thursday.

OSHA has six months to conduct their investigation and release any findings.

The agent that caused the tank explosion has still not been released.

An investigation is being conducted by the Barbour County Sheriff’s Department, West Virginia State Police and West Virginia Fire Marshal’s

Office.

Also assisting were the Philippi Police Department, Philippi Volunteer Fire Department, Belington Volunteer Fire Department and Barbour County EMS.

In addition to local departments, several state agencies assisted, including OSHA and West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.

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