Explosion at Procter & Gamble Plant in Pineville, Louisiana Kills One and Injures Six

An explosion at the Procter & Gamble Plant (P&G) in Pineville, Louisiana has killed one person, according to the State Fire Marshal’s Office. The accident occurred around 3:00 am on Thursday, May 24, 2018. A piece of equipment allegedly exploded and caught fire.

The man who was tragically killed was 56-year-old Allen Kendrick, who was operating, or perhaps driving, the equipment at the time of the explosion. Kendrick was the director of the LaSalle Parish Community Choir and was a member of a theater group in Jena, Louisiana.

The explosion caused a fire, which was limited to the equipment itself. Six other people were injured in the explosion and were treated and released.

On May 24, 2018, the state Fire Marshal’s Office issued a statement. According to KATC.com, it reads, “The State Fire Marshal’s Office has been called to investigate an explosion of a piece of equipment, that claimed the life of the equipment’s driver, inside the Procter & Gamble Plant in Pineville. The scene is still active, but the fire is out and did not spread beyond the equipment.”

The Procter & Gamble Plant is one of the largest employers in the area, with about 600 workers and hundreds of contractors. The plant makes liquid and dry detergent along with Tide Pods.

This is apparently the first fatal incident in the Procter & Gamble Plant’s history. The facility has been shut down while investigators comb over the accident scene. Investigators from OSHA are also at the plant.

We don’t know how the operator was killed. Explosions of equipment can emit tremendous force that can shatter bones and throw a human body many feet. The operator may have suffered crush injuries, head injuries, or injuries to the brain or heart.

Wrongful Death Lawsuits Can Help Families Heal

When a death occurs suddenly, the effect on a family is tragic and immediate. That person’s absence is keenly felt by everyone they knew. When that death is the result of an accident the grief can be even more intense. And what if the death was wrongfully caused?

Mr. Kendrick’s family has our sincere sympathies. Our firm represents families in wrongful death lawsuits throughout the United States. When a loved one is killed, the spouse, parents, or child has the right to sue. In addition to financial help, the lawsuits can help satisfy the family’s need for justice. 

Laws vary from state to state. Other family members have the right to file a lawsuit in some states.

Families can receive compensation for the loss of the person’s income and loss of future earnings, pain and suffering, and loss of companionship.

To find out if you have a legal right to compensation, call the Pritzker Hageman law office at 1-888-377-8900. Tell them about your situation, and they can tell you if you have a case. Consulting them is free and confidential and does not place any obligation on you.

Source

Jena Times. “Fatal P&G Explosion: Killed worker identified.” KALB / Jena Times, May 24, 2018.

KATC. “Conflicting reports emerge on fatal incident at Pineville detergent plant.” KATC.com, May 24, 2018.