LIPSCOMB COUNTY, TEXAS -- The Lipscomb County Sheriff's office has released the names of those killed and injured in a natural gas pipeline explosion on Tuesday.
Six employees from Nick Thomas Oilfield Service Company of Canadian were hauling caliche from a pit about two miles north of Darrouzett when the bulldozer struck a gas pipeline. The pipeline ruptured and ignited.
Johnnie Renner, 44, and Steven Odell, 32, both of Pampa were killed in the explosion. Dwayne Wood from Fritch was life-flighted to Oklahoma City with critical injuries. Josh Jackson from Pampa and Ben Martinez from Canadian were treated at Hemphill County Hospital and released.
Fire department and EMS units from Darrouzett, Follett, Higgins, Booker, Beaver County, Oklahoma, Slapout, Oklahoma, and Hemphill County, Texas responded along with Lipscomb county deputies.
The Lipscomb County Sheriff's Office says the incident is still under investigation.
Pronews 7 spoke with DCP Midstream, the company that operates the pipeline. DCP says it was notified of the explosion shortly after it happened. The company says it then took steps to cut off the flow of gas in the line.
When asked if the proper steps were taken before the crew started digging a DCP official said that's one question that will have to be answered in its investigation.
"We have deployed an investigation team which is on the ground working with local authorities, really trying to understand what's gone on. It's really early on in our investigation right now, so that is part of the questions we're asking in our investigation,"said Roz Elliott a spokesman for DCP.
The company did say that while these incidents are rare, they have happened in the past. The best advice they have is to call before you dig.
