Death Toll of Chesapeake Oil Rig Explosion Near Caldwell, TX Rises to 3

Three of the four people injured in an explosion at an oil rig near Caldwell, Texas on January 29 have died. The fourth person remains hospitalized with burn injuries.

According to a statement issued by Chesapeake Energy Corp., the Oklahoma City-based company that operates the wellsite, an 11-member crew was doing “workover operations” when the explosion occurred at around 3:30 p.m.  The crew included Chesapeake employees as well as contract employees from Eagle Pressure Control of Houston and  C.C. Forbes of Alice, Texas.

The crew was working to upgrade the wellhead. It is unclear why a surge of natural gas entered the well and ignited. A crew from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board has been deployed to investigate.

Windell Beddingfield, 38, of Tyler, Texas, sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. Three other workers were injured and airlifted from the scene to hospitals in Austin and Houston. One of them, Brian Maldonado, 25, of San Diego, sustained burns to 90 percent of his body, He died the following day. The name of the third crew member to die has not been released.

The explosion attorneys at Pritzker Hageman represent people who have been injured in explosions and families who have suffered the wrongful death of a loved one. To request a free consultation with our Explosions Team, please call us at 1-888-377-8900, text us at 612-261-0856 or, complete the form below.