The Associated Press via The Charleston Gazette
AVELLA, Pa. — Authorities say three contract workers were injured, one critically, in a fiery explosion at a natural gas drilling site in western Pennsylvania.
Chesapeake Energy Corp. says well testing was underway when the fire erupted at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday near Avella, about 25 miles west of Pittsburgh.
The company says the men injured were not involved with the tests but were working onsite.
Company and hospital officials say Richard Lancaster, 50, of Sardis, Ohio, is in critical condition, and Russell Schoolcraft, 48, of Clover, W.Va., is in serious condition at Pittsburgh’s UPMC-Mercy Hospital.
The company says Frank Lancaster, 36, remains at West Penn Hospital, where his condition is not being released at the request of family.
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