Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 13, 1993 TAG: 9310130039
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
David McAlpin, 50, of Troutville was killed by the blast, which occurred shortly after 3 p.m.
State safety inspectors are expected to be at the plant today to determine the cause of the explosion.
"All we know is that we have an oven with its doors blown open," said Jim H. Guynn Jr., the company's attorney.
Workers said the oven was used to cure iron castings produced by the 73-year-old plant.
Roanoke Police Lt. Ron Carlisle said McAlpin suffered head injuries when struck by the oven doors. The blast knocked him backward about five feet.
Carlisle said there were no visible ruptures in the gas lines feeding the oven.
"The explosion apparently originated within the furnace itself," he said.
Capt. John Lucas of the Roanoke Fire Department said the force of the explosion bent the doors "right bad."
The blast even shook some of the adjacent buildings at the plant.
"I heard a boom, and that was it," said Richard Tucker, an employee at the plant for 15 years. "I thought a forklift had hit the building."
Worried relatives of workers gathered outside the plant at 2415 Russell Ave. S.W., anxiously waiting.
A security guard stationed at the gate turned back the media and night-shift workers, who were told their shift had been canceled.
About 40 percent of Walker's employees work the daylight shift, where McAlpin supervised a finishing unit.
The bulk of the plant's 130 employees work from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Guynn, the company's attorney, said Tuesday's death was the first at the Walker company.
Keywords:
FATALITY
by CNB