Texas Plant Explosion Kills One

July 6, 2004
Authorities are investigating the cause of an explosion at an industrial plant in the Panhandle that killed one employee and severely burned another.
PAMPA, Texas (AP) -- Authorities are investigating the cause of an explosion at an industrial plant in the Panhandle that killed one employee and severely burned another.

Karen Standefer, 41, was killed about 7:30 a.m. Tuesday at Titan Specialties Inc. in Pampa.

Another woman who worked there was flown to the burn unit at University Medical Center in Lubbock. A fellow employee at the company that designs and makes equipment for the oil well service industry was slightly injured while trying to help that woman.

The explosion occurred in what officials called a laboratory at the rear of the Titan office building, according to The Pampa News. Bystanders said they heard a single loud explosion, possibly followed by a smaller explosion.

``It was a pretty isolated spot, and it was early,'' Gray County Chief Deputy Kelly Rushing told the Amarillo Globe-News in Wednesday's editions.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating the cause of the blast.

Titan employs about 135 people at the plant.

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