Denice Downing Obituary, Death; – A woman passed away on Saturday due to a chemical explosion at an industrial facility located on Highway 59 near mile marker 78, as reported by the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office.
The deceased has been identified as 47-year-old Denice Downing, a tanker operator, who was present at the site on April 12 to transport a mixture of hydrochloric acid and water being injected into a well, according to Sheriff’s Office Investigations Corporal Josh Knittel.
Downing was inside the cab of the tanker when workers noticed what they suspected to be a chemical reaction and observed increasing pressure. As the workers began to evacuate the area, the tanker exploded, tearing the vehicle apart and propelling it a hundred feet away, according to Knittel.
The Campbell County Coroner confirmed that Downing died instantly in the explosion, and an autopsy is scheduled in the coming days to establish the official cause of death. Another worker was in proximity to the tanker at the time of the explosion but fortunately sustained no injuries. The damage was reportedly limited to the tanker and a nearby flatbed work truck, as noted by Knittel.
Investigators are currently working to ascertain the cause of the explosion, with one potential explanation being that the tank may have contained residues from another chemical that reacted with the hydrochloric acid. Knittel stated that definitive conclusions will not be reached until further testing is conducted.
