Several Workers Injured in Oil Field Explosion

GREGG COUNTY — Officials investigate an accident at a local business over the weekend. It happened around 12:50 on Saturday afternoon. Gregg County Deputies, the Longview Fire Department and the Gregg County Fire Marshal responded to the scene of an industrial accident at 1010 Cox Dairy Road. Three individuals contracted by Exxon / Mobil; 54 year old Kenneth Shahan of Center, 26 year old Brent Ellison and 25 year old Antonio Exner, both from Hawkins, were injured by an explosion at the oil field site.

The explosion was apparently caused by welding on a pipe believed to be clear of hydrocarbons. Shahan and Ellison were transported to Parkland Hospital in Dallas. Exner was treated and later released at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview. Shahan’s injuries consisted of 2nd degree burns and blast injury; Ellison had 3rd degree
burns and blast injury and Exner had minor burns. The explosion is under investigation by Gregg County Fire Marshal Preston Hogue and Investigators from OSHA.