Explosion at UPS Freight in Lexington, Kentucky Injures Two

An explosion at a United Parcel Service (UPS) facility in Lexington, Kentucky on May 30, 2018 injured at least two people. Officials think that the explosion, which occurred around 7:30 a.m., happened when acetylene leaked out of cylinders that were inside a tractor-trailer in the building. The facility is on Blue Sky Parkway, east of Interstate 75.

Those two people suffered concussion injuries and burns and are listed in fair condition. Six other people were taken to the hospital for observation and were later released. The building was evacuated and everyone has been accounted for.

The building has been significantly damaged. Lexington Fire battalion chief Jason Wells told WLKY, “A pretty large hole was blown into the roof. Several walls were displaced.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives has sent a crew to the scene. News reports state that people felt the explosion at least two miles away.

The latest reports are that the explosion was caused when a propane torch was ignored near leaking acetylene containers.  One of the injured is a UPS driver, and the second injured person was operating the torch.

UPS Explosion Causes Burn and Brain Injuries

Explosions can cause human injuries in several ways. The force of the blast can throw people through the air and they may land on a hard surface. That can cause brain injuries such as concussions, which happened in this case, and can also injure the lungs and heart. Explosions also set off fires, which can cause burn injuries.

Concussions are a specific type of brain injury. This injury can affect brain function. While these effects are normally temporary, they can cause problems with memory, concentration, and balance. Other symptoms of a concussion may include sensitivity to light and noise, irritability and other personality changes, and sleep disturbances. Repeated concussions can lead to brain damage. And some patients with concussions can develop post-concussion syndrome, which can last for months.

Any burn injury is painful and can be disfiguring. Treatment for burns is extremely painful, depending on the type of burn. Many burn patients need expensive rehabilitation during their recovery.

Contact Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman at 1-888-377-8900 for help protecting your legal rights. Fred and Eric have won millions for their clients who have been injured in workplace explosions. When they are hired, Eric and Fred travel to their clients to get to know them and their families. They spend the time to understand what’s going on and what their clients need. Then they start investigating the incident and bring in experts so every aspect of the explosion is examined. They will work for you.

Sources

Weigel, Jennifer. “Significant damage reported after explosion at UPS Freight in Lexington.” WLKY, May 30, 2018.

WKYT News Staff. “Investigators: Propane torch likely set off explosion at UPS Freight in Lexington. WKYT. May 31, 2018