4 still hospitalized with severe injuries after a flash fire erupted at the Sunoco Logistics unit in Nederland.
Less than a day ago, and a couple hundred feet from Lonnie Mosley’s house, a flash fire sent a crew of contract workers at Sunoco Logistics to the hospital.
“I feel sorry for them, if they work out there, they're trying to make a living, accidents do happen,” says Mosley, who has been living in Nederland for over 40 years.
Four of the victims, all employees of L-Con, Inc. are in critical condition.
Sunoco Logistics sign reads
"A good day starts and ends with safety"
Last night, 7 people were rushed to hospital pic.twitter.com/4hfoGK8FT0
— JuanRodríguez 12News (@_JuanRodriguez_) August 13, 2016They are currently being treated in Houston and Galveston hospitals.
The other 3 victims were treated in Beaumont hospitals with minor injuries but later released.
Sunoco Logistics' spokesman says the incident is still under investigation, but welding along a crude oil pipeline was going on at that time.
In a statement, the spokesman said:
"Company officials from the construction contractor, L-Con, Inc., have contacted family members of those injured. The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Sunoco Logistics are with them. "
Within hours of the incident, OSHA and contractors were already on the scene.
“Any incident inside a refinery or an instance like this, it's going to be investigated by OSHA or those type of companies, based on safety. They want to see if all protocols were covered,” tells us Deputy Marcus McLellann of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
Mosley has lived in Nederland for more than 40 years, and says incidents like the one of Friday night at Sunoco Logistics are rare.
Mosley says, “With all the refineries out here, everybody is at risk. With them working in a plant, whether it's a chemical plant, refinery, terminal, there's always risks.
Sunoco Logistics spokesperson says last nights flair has not caused significant disruption to business operations pic.twitter.com/f31jj1h31R
— JuanRodríguez 12News (@_JuanRodriguez_) August 13, 2016
The Sunoco Logistics company says the incident has not caused significant disruption to the business operation.
Stay with 12News for updates on the condition of the victims.