UPDATE POSTED AT 10:30 A.M. TUESDAY: David Ward, the second City of Danville utilities workers injured Monday outside the Intertape Polymer Group plant in Pittsylvania County, is in stable condition this morning at UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill.
UPDATE POSTED AT 6 P.M. MONDAY
Charles Sutton, who was one of two City of Danville utilities workers injured earlier today, has been treated and released from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
No information is available at this time on the condition of David Ward, who was transported to UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill, N.C.
ORIGINAL STORY POSTED AT 3 P.M. MONDAY
Two City of Danville utility workers were injured Monday morning during an explosion outside the Intertape Polymer Group plant on Eagle Springs Road in Pittsylvania County.
The explosion occurred around 11 a.m., said Jason Grey, director of utilities.
The workers — Charles Sutton and David Ward — suffered burns, but the extent is not known at this point. Sutton was flown directly to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. Ward was transported to UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Sutton and Ward were working on the wiring for future needs at the plant when the explosion occurred. Grey said the cause of the explosion is not immediately known.
“We will work with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and other authorities to determine the cause,” Grey said.
The explosion left a portion of the plant without power, which is expected to be restored by this evening.
Ringgold Volunteer Fire and Rescue responded to the incident.
Danville Utilities provides natural gas, water, wastewater and telecommunications services in Danville and distributes electricity to approximately 42,000 customer locations in a 500-square-mile service territory covering Danville, the southern third of Pittsylvania County, and small portions of Henry and Halifax counties.