1 Dead, 2 Injured in Texas Grain Elevator Collapse

Central Illinois farmers deposit harvested corn on the ground outside a full grain elevator in Virginia, Ill., on Sept. 23, 2015. (Seth Perlman/file/AP Photo)

One person has died and two others were transported to hospital after two grain elevators collapsed in Tynan, Texas, on July 4, according to officials.

The incident occurred on the site of R & R Commodities, just off Highway 359 between Mathis and Skidmore in Bee County on Tuesday night, according to KIII-TV.

Two of the grain elevators reportedly ruptured and collapsed onto two 18-wheeler trucks, the publication reported.

Medical crews were called to the scene where they worked for hours before rescuing two individuals who were later taken to local hospitals, Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Harold Mallory told the publication. One of those individuals was transported by helicopter, Mr. Mallory said.

The extent of their injuries is currently unknown.

Another person was also killed in the collapse, according to Mr. Mallory.

Emergency response teams initially believed the third individual to be trapped under the debris but his body was later recovered shortly after 7 p.m.

The man who died has been identified as grain elevator worker Sergio “Jason” Alvarez by his sister-in-law. She told KRIS 6 News on Wednesday that Mr. Alvarez had celebrated his 37th birthday one day prior on July 3.

“We are so thankful for all the support of the community and of all the law enforcement and workers that came out,” Brandi Villarreal said in a statement.

The two injured workers have been identified as Ben Mengers and Andres Martinez, with Mr. Mengers reportedly suffering serious injuries.

Images shared online show one of the grain elevators clearly ruptured and laying on the ground next to a pile of debris. Separate images show emergency crews responding to the scene as mountains of grain can be seen piled high on the ground. A large truck appears to have sustained heavy damage from the collapse.

On Facebook, officials from the city of Beeville in Bee County said that multiple agencies had responded to the incident, including fire crews and law enforcement officers from various nearby counties.

“There is no amount of training that can prepare you for everything you may encounter,” officials wrote. “In response to the tragic grain elevators that collapsed today in Tynan, we first extend our thoughts and prayers to the victims, families, and the entire community; however there is a huge ‘Thank You’ to those who responded.”

It is unclear what prompted the collapse, although silo collapses are often owing to “accumulated points for repair that cause stress on the silo’s entire construction,” according to the Kansas-based construction company, Borton. Other issues that could cause such a collapse are the deterioration of foundations, structural issues, and corrosion or buckling, the latter of which is more common in steel silos, according to the company.

The Bee County Sheriff’s Department is now investigating the incident alongside the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

“The initial investigation is that it is an accident,” Bee County Sheriff Department Chief Deputy Ronnie Jones told KIII-TV. “Through investigating we will see if there was any criminal activity but we haven’t seen any of that so far.”

“We are not exactly sure what caused the collapse,” he continued. “Whether it was striking it or just too much in one area equipment, we are not sure, we’re looking into that. OSHA is going to be involved in it and we’re working on that as well.”

The Bee County Sheriff’s Department did not respond to a request for further comment.