Reuters: U.S.: Man loses part of leg, others injured as California power plant razed

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Man loses part of leg, others injured as California power plant razed Aug 3rd 2013, 22:51 By Kevin Murphy Sat Aug 3, 2013 6:51pm EDT (Reuters) - One man lost part of his leg and at least two other people were injured by flying debris as they watched the planned implosion of an abandoned power plant in Bakersfield, California early on Saturday morning, police said. The 43-year-old "suffered a traumatic partial amputation of one leg and major injuries to the other," the Bakersfield Police Department said in a statement. Shrapnel from the blast also hit two other spectators, causing minor injuries, the release said. One officer along the east perimeter heard screams for help at the 6 a.m. implosion, said police, who were on scene helping to control traffic and crowds. The boiler facility, which belonged to Pacific Gas and Electric Company and was decommissioned in 1986, had two towers 140 feet tall and four 200,000-gallon (757 ,082-liter) empty water tanks, company spokesman Denny Boyles said. It was being removed so the property could be cleared for sale under an agreement with the city of Bakersfield, he said. Demolition subcontractors worked with police to establish a 1,000-foot (305-meter) perimeter beyond which a crowd had gathered to observe the demolition, Boyles said. He said the injured people were apparently outside the perimeter. "Our thoughts and prayers are with those who were injured during the demolition," Boyles said, adding that the company and subcontractors are cooperating with local authorities investigating what went wrong. The man with the leg injuries was taken to a local hospital and then to Fresno, California, for further treatment, police said. (Reporting by Kevin Murphy; Editing by Eric M. Johnson and Eric Walsh) Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints

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