Three Dead in Towboat Explosion on Tennessee River

Three people are confirmed dead in an explosion Friday morning inside a towboat on the Tennessee River at the Calvert City industrial park.

Sheriff Kevin Byars says multiple agencies responded at 9:17 am to First Marine Dry Dock Boat and Barge Repair, and responders worked to contain the fire on the vessel and rescue several people trapped inside. The boat has been identified as the motor vessel William F. Straight.

Kentucky State Police says the preliminary investigation shows the explosion happened inside the towboat, which was being repaired. 

Trooper Jody Cash said, "There was an explosion which resulted in a flash fire, and then there was a small fire after, that was put out relatively quickly."

There were 41 people on the site when the explosion occurred, but not all of them were on the towboat at the time. They included employees from First Marine, Four Rivers Marine Coating, Hutco, and Thermal Control. 

Three people were pronounced dead at the scene by the Marshall County Coroner. They are 52-year-old Timothy L. Wright of Calvert City, 56-year-old Jerome A. Smith of Thibodaux, Louisiana, and 41-year-old Quentin J. Stewart of Opelousas, Louisiana. Autopsies are scheduled for each of them in Louisville Saturday morning.

Six people were injured at the scene. They include 21-year-old Javier Fuenes, taken to Marshall County Hospital for treatment of minor injuries; 23-year-old Wilson Madrid, taken to Marshall County Hospital for treatment of minor injuries; James Lang, taken to Lourdes Hospital for treatment of serious injuries; Billy Counts, flown to Vanderbilt for treatment of serious injuries; Jimmy Lang, flown to Vanderbilt for treatment of serious injuries; Tyler Wedeking, taken to Lourdes Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

(WestKentuckyStar confirmed with KSP that two injured victims share very similar names)

The U.S. Coast Guard is on scene, and OSHA will also investigate. 

Cash said, "We'll continue to investigate the cause to verify and confirm exactly what happened to cause the explosion. There's no early indications of any foul play."