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Trucker suing for “substantial injuries and trauma” suffered while fleeing burning chemical facility

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A Houston truck driver is filing a lawsuit after he was injured while fleeing a massive chemical fire at a facility near the coast last week. 

The facility in Channelview, Texas burst into flames on April 7th at around 4 p.m., burning through chemicals including but not limited to hydrochloric acid, acetone, ethanol, ethylene dichloride, and other acids.

According to ABC 13 News, truck driver Antonio Alvarez was at the chemical shipping facility to drop off and pick up product when the fire erupted. As soon as he saw the flames, he started to run away but fell in the process, and was soon scrambling to climb a fence with other employees trying to escape the encroaching flames.

“As sequential explosions rang out, Mr. Alvarez made it to a high fence that he and other facility contractors squeezed and pressed against, while trying to scale it to escape the facility,” read a statement issued by Alvarez’s attorneys.

Luckily, the workers were able to find a ladder and scale the fence, but not without injuries and effort. 

“Mr. Alvarez was able to escape the facility and successfully board the vessel but not without sustaining substantial injuries and trauma as a result of the chaos and destruction following the fire,” the statement continued.

Alvarez was later hospitalized for injuries to his lungs, neck, shoulders, and back.

The lawsuit claims that the facility, K-Solv, was negligent and did not put the proper safety rules and guidance in place, provide timely assistance to those affected, or warn anyone of a potentially dangerous situation. 

The amount of financial compensation Alvarez is seeking was not released.

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