Missing Worker Presumed Dead After Texas Chemical Plant Explosion

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The search for a man missing since a North Texas chemical plant exploded and caught fire on March 15 has been postponed because of dangerous site conditions.

Cresson Mayor and Assistant Fire Chief Bob Cornett said Saturday that fires were still burning at the 15,000-square-foot (1,400-square-meter) Tri-Chem Industries plant in Cresson. About half of the building had caved in.

Cornett says, “They’ve pulled everybody out. It’s just too dangerous.”

Cornett identified the missing worker who is presumed dead as 27-year-old Dylan Mitchell.

Two other workers were injured in the explosion. One remained in the hospital Friday in serious condition with severe burns from the waist up. His condition could not be immediately be confirmed on Saturday.

Hood County Fire Marshal Ray Wilson said Saturday that hazardous-material crews are preparing for expected rain, which could aggravate the plant’s exposed chemicals.

Hood County records showed that in 2017 the company had chemicals that were toxic and flammable. Hood County said the company had not submitted an emergency management plan with them.

Wilson said the plant contains acids that react to heat, pressure and water, which is why they haven’t yet turned on the fire hose.

Texas Department of Public Safety Staff Sgt. Earl Gillum said experts determined there were no air quality issues Thursday, but that the site remains dangerous because of the chemicals still to be cleaned up.

There is a fertilizer plant adjacent to the Tri-Chem plant, but Wilson said there was “no known threat” to the fertilizer facility.

Investigators believe a worker dragging his foot along the floor while chemicals were being mixed sparked the explosion. That worker was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas with burn injuries.

Jessica Gregg told television station KXAS that the man taken to Parkland was 27-year-old Jason Speegle, her son-in-law. Catherine Bradley, a spokeswoman at Parkland, said Speegle was in serious condition Friday.

Another worker was treated for less severe injuries and released from a hospital in Granbury on Friday.