A Hampshire chemical explosion left one person dead and another critically injured at a manufacturing plant in Northern Illinois.
Tank Explodes at Plant
The chemical explosion took place at W.R. Meadows Inc., located near North State Street and Allen Road/Route 3 on the north side of Hampshire, IL. The Kane County plant manufactures asphalt and concrete materials for building construction.
On January 21, 2022, at approximately 10:45 a.m., two plant employees were reportedly cleaning a tank inside one of the buildings when it suddenly exploded.
No flames were visible when firefighters arrived at the scene of the Hampshire chemical explosion shortly afterward. They found 55-year-old Wuilmer Gavigia of Algonquin, who was killed in the blast, and his unidentified coworker, who was transported to an Elgin hospital in critical condition.
Officials report that no other employees sustained injuries in the incident that claimed Mr. Gavigia’s life.
Cause of Hampshire Chemical Explosion Unclear
The Hampshire chemical explosion caused extensive property damage to the W.R. Meadows plant. Emergency personnel evacuated people living or working near the blast site for safety reasons.
The Hampshire Police Department stationed officers at the entrance of the facility to control access. They only permitted plant employees to enter and exit the premises and sent away trucks waiting to drop off materials.
According to Hampshire Fire Protection District Chief Trevor Herrmann, it was not immediately clear either what exactly triggered the explosion that killed Wuilmer Gavigia or what chemicals may have been involved.
“The investigation continues to go on,” said Herrmann. “We don’t exactly know what caused the explosion.”
In addition to the ongoing investigation into the underlying causes of the Hampshire chemical explosion, a village inspector is working to assess the structural integrity of the impacted building.
No personal injury attorneys are known to have filed suit at this time.
Have You Been Harmed in a Chemical Explosion?
Explosions are highly destructive events, frequently inflicting significant injuries and loss of life. Chemical explosions can be even more hazardous, potentially releasing toxic substances that could impair the health of those in the surrounding areas.
Unfortunately, if you have been harmed in a chemical explosion, it can be highly difficult to obtain compensation. Because of the complexity of these types of incidents, multiple parties could be responsible. It can require extensive familiarity with the technical aspects of explosions in order to properly identify and pursue everyone who may be at fault. For this reason, chemical explosion victims often find that they might benefit from the assistance of the knowledgeable personal injury attorneys at GWC Injury Lawyers LLC.
With more than $2 billion recovered in verdicts and settlements, GWC is one of the premier Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation law firms in Illinois. No other plaintiff firm in the state is more respected – or more feared – by its adversaries, both inside and outside of the courtroom. Our personal injury attorneys have the experience, the determination, the resources, and the reputation of success necessary to help get you and your family the justice you deserve.
To schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation with a dedicated personal injury attorney, contact GWC today. You may call our office at (312) 464-1234 or click here to chat with a representative at any time.
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