Francesville elevator explosion injures two

Updated

FRANCESVILLE - A grain elevator employee and a truck driver were airlifted to a Fort Wayne hospital with critical burns, according to emergency officials, following an explosion at a Francesville grain elevator Monday afternoon

A call reporting the explosion at the Tate & Lyle grain facility, located on the south edge of town, came in just after 2 p.m.

The injured men are elevator employee Glenn Tiede, 67, and farmer Tim Reidelbach, 57. Both were listed in critical condition Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 27).

They were treated at the scene Monday by emergency responders before being transported to Fort Wayne.

According to witness reports, Reidelbach was in his grain truck, unloading, when the explosion occurred. He was drug to safety by two other farmers waiting in line to unload grain, Josh Federer and Dan Culp. Tiede had been assisting Reidelbach with the grain unload.

WLFI in Lafayette is reporting that authorities have ruled a mechanical failure caused the explosion.

The elevator structure did not collapse, but concerns about the integrity of the concrete elevator following the explosion limited access to the facility throughout the afternoon for police and firefighters to begin their investigations. A two-block area was cordoned off around the grain facility, but no evacuations of homes and businesses were conducted.

A white smoke could be seen coming from the top of the elevator following the explosion.

The state fire marshal's office was called to investigate. A consulting team from Tate & Lyle was also called to the scene to safely direct operations.

Fire departments from Monticello, Rensselaer Medaryville, Monon, and Buffalo assisted local emergency officials at the scene.

Tate & Lyle is a global provider of ingredients and solutions to the food, beverage and other industries, with operations in over 30 locations worldwide.