One Worker Killed, Two Injured in Texas Refinery Accident

One worker was killed and two others were injured when a boiler failed at a Valero petroleum refinery in Texas City.

Texas City emergency manager Bruce Clawson says the two people who were injured in the incident on the night of Dec. 4 were in good condition.

Galveston County’s chief medical examiner says the man died of blunt force trauma in the accident. Dr. Stephen Pustilnik said in Saturday’s online edition of the Houston Chronicle that 40-year-old Tommy Manis of Alvin died after a boiler failure Friday night at the Valero plant.

Valero Energy Co. spokesman Bill Day told The Associated Press the accident had yet to be classified an explosion. He said the investigation was continuing.

Manis and one of the injured were Valero employees. Day says the other injured person was a contract worker.

After the boiler failed, Day says the plant continued operating and there was no environmental damage.

The refinery employs about 480 people.