Trucker escapes major explosion
GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. — A tanker trucker is lucky to be alive after an explosion at the Canadian Crude Separators (CCS) plant yesterday.
The facility was closed overnight after an explosion ripped through the oilfield facility northwest of Grande Prairie.
The injured truck driver was just finishing emptying petroleum-contaminated water from his rig when the explosion occurred, causing him to suffer severe burns and a bad facial cut. He is, however, recovering from serious, but non-life threatening injuries.
CCS northwest manager, Jack Janzen, says the trucker followed all the necessary safety procedures and that the explosion was probably caused by flammable vapor in the air.
The fire lasted about an hour and tanker trucks were turned away from the facility while crews battled the blaze. The facility remains closed as Workplace Health and Safety officers investigate the accident.
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