A worker accidentally cut a hole in a pipeline, causing a cloud of green poisonous gas to spew out of the plant where it was carried by wind to nearby Tweedy Elementary School. Teachers and students were evacuated but some were hospitalized. The leak lasted for eight minutes before an employee turned off the valve. The pipeline, which was in the process of being dismantled as part of a modernization project, carried chlorine from a railroad tank car to a bleach-making vat. Approximately 80 people were injured, 24 teachers, 23 students of Tweedy Elementary School, and 22 people from Dial Corp.
| First | Last | Age | Title | Employer | Injury Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Teacher | Tweedy Elementary School | Injury |
| Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Student | None | Injury |
| Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Dial | Injury |
| Name | Type | Title | Plea Info. | Conviction Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel King | Individual | Director of Manufacturing | Pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor Code of Regulations violation for dismantling pressurized pipelines (8 CCR Sec. 3329) | Sentenced to one year probation. Under the terms of probation, all three officials will be required to follow an emergency response and evacuation plan designed by an independent safety firm. |
| Crimes Charged: |
Penal Crimes: None |
Other Crimes: Misdemeanor Code of Regulations violation (Unspecified) | ||
| Skip Foster | Individual | Maintenance Supervisor | Pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor Code of Regulations violation for dismantling pressurized pipelines (8 CCR Sec. 3329) | Sentenced to one year probation. Under the terms of probation, all three officials will be required to follow an emergency response and evacuation plan designed by an independent safety firm. |
| Crimes Charged: |
Penal Crimes: None |
Other Crimes: Misdemeanor Code of Regulations violation (Unspecified) | ||
| Nelson Landman | Individual | Plant Maintenance Manager | Pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor Code of Regulations violation for dismantling pressurized pipelines (8 CCR Sec. 3329) | Sentenced to one year probation. Under the terms of probation, all three officials will be required to follow an emergency response and evacuation plan designed by an independent safety firm. |
| Crimes Charged: |
Penal Crimes: None |
Other Crimes: Misdemeanor Code of Regulations violation (Unspecified) | ||
| Dial Corporation | Entity | Entity | Pleaded no contest to five misdemeanor Labor Code violations and one Health and Safety Code infraction for public nuisance | Sentenced to one year probation. Fined $42,500. |
| Crimes Charged: |
Penal Crimes: None |
Other Crimes: Misdemeanor violations (Unspecified) | ||