One of the two steel workers injured at the CMC Steel plant near Seguin Sunday has died, according to Stephen Galvan at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research burn center.
Clifton Wright, 21, suffered burns to as much as 80 percent of his body after an accident inside a "melting room" at CMC Steel. Wright died late Wednesday morning.
The accident, which was the second major incident at the plant in less than a month, happened around 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
Wright's co-worker Gabriel Garcia, described as being in his early 40s, was released from the hospital Monday morning.
First responders told KENS 5 it appeared Garcia suffered burns to his hands.
Both men were rushed to the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research burn center at the San Antonio Military Medical Center.
"The critical victim was actually standing, leaning against a pickup truck being treated by some of their first-aid personnel," said Chief Tim Bogisch of the McQueeney Volunteer Fire Department. "When I saw him, even from a distance, I could see he had burns over the majority of his body."
McQueeney said firefighters found boxes and wooden pallets on fire inside the melting room, but were forced to let a majority of the fires burn out.
"If you throw water on 2,000 degree molten metal, you'll get a steam explosion," said Bogisch.
A spokeswoman for CMC said operations at the plant have resumed, but the area where the accident happened will remain closed while the company investigates the cause.
"Our primary concern is for the well-being of our two employees and their families," Matt Brace, Vice President Central Region, CMC Americas Division said in a written statement.
Occupational Safety & Health Administration records show the facility was fined $4,500 following an accident in November 2008 that injured two employees.
Records show the building was owned at that time by a company called Structural Metals Inc.
