(Update) Kentucky State Police Investigating Explosion
Date of News Release: 1/22/2018
CALVERT CITY, Ky. (January 19, 2018) – Kentucky State Police and emergency personnel have finished on scene processing at the site of the explosion. Preliminary investigation has shown an explosion resulted in a flash fire and subsequent small fire inside the tug boat.
The property on which the explosion took place is owned by First Marine. The tug boat on which the explosion took place is owned by Smithland Towing. The workers present on the site of the explosion were from First Marine, Four Rivers Marine Coating, Hutco, and Thermal Control. Preliminary investigation has shown a total of 41 people present on site, but not all of them were on the tug boat at the time of the explosion.
As a result of the explosion, six people were transported to various hospitals for treatment of injuries. Javier Fuenes, age 21, was transported by ambulance to Marshall County Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Wilson Madrid, age 23, was transported by ambulance to Marshall County Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. James Lang was transported by ambulance to Lourdes Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Tyler Wedington was transported by ambulance to Lourdes Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Jimmy Lang was transported by helicopter to Vanderbilt for treatment of serious injuries. Billy Counts was transported by helicopter to Vanderbilt for treatment of serious injuries.
Timothy L. Wright, age 52, of Calvert City, Kentucky, Jerome A. Smith, age 56, of Thibodaux, Lo
uisiana, and Quentin J. Stewart, age 41, of Opelousas, Louisiana, were pronounced dead at the scene by the Marshall County Coroner. Autopsies are scheduled for each of the deceased in Louisville tomorrow morning.
The investigation is continuing by Detective Eric Fields. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kentucky State Police Post 1 at 270-856-3721 or anonymously at 1-800-222-5555. Citizens may also report tips anonymously through the KSP app. The app is available for iPhone, iPad and Android applications and can be easily downloaded free of charge through Apple and Google Play stores.
Kentucky State Police Investigating Explosion
Date of News Release: 1/22/2018
CALVERT CITY, Ky. (January 19, 2018) – Kentucky State Police Detectives are on the scene of an early morning explosion on the Tennessee River. At 9:17 a.m., Marshall County Dispatch received a call reporting an explosion on a tug-boat docked on Hollinger Road. Calvert City Fire Department, Gilbertsville Fire Department, East Marshall Fire Department, and Palma-Briensburg Fire Department responded, along with Marshall County Rescue Squad, Marshall County Office of Emergency Management, Marshall County Sheriff Office, Calvert City Police Department, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, Marshall County Ambulance, Livingston County Ambulance, Murray-Calloway County Ambulance, Mercy Ambulance, and Air Evac. Shortly thereafter, the Kentucky State Police were requested for investigation.
Preliminary investigation has shown the explosion occurred inside a docked tug-boat which was actively being worked on. Three people were pronounced dead at the scene and an numerous other people were transported by various medical service agencies for injuries received. Those injuries ran
ged from non-life threatening to life-threatening.
Authorities are in the process of making notification to the families of the deceased. Once notification has been made, their information will be released to the public.
There is no early indication of foul play being involved in the explosion.
U. S. Coast Guard has also been on scene, and an OSHA investigator is expected on scene shortly.
The investigation is expected to last into the night hours and additional updates will be sent out with more specific information related to the incident and subsequent investigation.
The investigation is continuing by Detective Eric Fields. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kentucky State Police Post 1 at 270-856-3721 or anonymously at 1-800-222-5555. Citizens may also report tips anonymously through the KSP app. The app is available for iPhone, iPad and Android applications and can be easily downloaded free of charge through Apple and Google Play stores.
