LOS ANGELES : 3 Welders Hurt in Subway Blast Remain in Hospital
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Three welders remained hospitalized Tuesday, a day after a blast at a subway construction site beneath Vermont Avenue and 6th Street.
Dale Gibson, 37, who underwent surgery for a fractured knee Monday night, was in very critical condition at Torrance Memorial Hospital Burn Center with third-degree burns over 90% of his body. Andy Gutierrez, 52, who suffered smoke inhalation and second- and third-degree burns over 35% of his body, was in serious condition.
Welder Michael Willis, who was treated for smoke inhalation, was in stable condition at Queen of Angels/Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center.
Fire officials said the three men were injured when a chunk of metal fell from a conveyor belt and punctured an acetylene tank, setting off a blast that was doused quickly by employees of the contractor, Shea-Kiewit-Kenny.
Work was shut down Tuesday at the accident site, 50 feet below street level, as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Cal/OSHA continued separate investigations of the incident.
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