TWO REMAIN CRITICAL AFTER CHEMICAL PLANT EXPLOSION
Wednesday, March 19th, 2008 -- 11:39 AM
Two employees injured when a chemical plant exploded and caught fire in Spooner remained hospitalized in critical condition Wednesday afternoon.Aaron Merchant is being treated at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. Cory LaBonte is at Miller-Dwan Medical Center in Duluth, Minn. Hospital representatives say both are in critical condition.
They were injured Tuesday morning at the Cortec Corp. plant, which makes aerosols and paint solvents.
Authorities say there were six people in the plant at the time. The other four workers weren't hurt.
The blast is being investigated by inspectors from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The state Department of Natural Resources plans to do soil and water tests.
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