March 13, my work exploded, and my friend passed away.
Scary day, i can't type much for now, as i have people to meet from class, whom also knew my friend from school.
Ill give you a rundown of what happened with a [shizzle]ty drawing.
The red outlines are booths, two large booths together, and a small parts booth.
The maroon colored circles are thinner barrels and storage for touch up paints.
SF = santa Fe
Matrix = toyota matrix.
Todd was in the booth stripping a car
I was prepping a car over at prep.
Tyler was aiming the headlights for the matrix and talked to kyle before going to get a screw driver.
Kyle talked to tyler and walked toward the thinner barrels.
Tyler described taking 5 steps from kyle before the bang went off.
The grey outline is the rough perimeter of the blast radius.
Todd heard the bang and exited the paint booth to see a wall of flames and a [shizzle] load of black smoke then to see kyle walk out on fire from ehad to toe.
No one could join kyle and todd because of smoke and fire, so todd was alone with kyle trying to put him out. You can see the path i took after it happened. The grey line outside represents a gate that was locked. And it is an entire block to get around to the front again.
The orange X's represent bay doors or man doors. Todd couldnt extinguish kyle completely before not being able to breath and had to get outside for fresh air. We all thought things were good until he came running outside screaming that kyle was still inside, on fire. Ryan, and a few others tried opening the man door but the suction from the air coming in to feed the fire was a lot to deal with. So i ran back to my door, and held it open to try and compensate. Apparently it worked (i felt so helpless not being able to get over there and help kyle)
Kyle finally got outside only to be smoking from head to toe, entirely black, yellow, red, orange... His eyelids were melted off from what i assume had to be when he blinked, lips were colorless, hair was singed and orange looking etc etc etc it was horrible.
He was in a state of shock, we got him to a neighboring medical supplies buiilding until the peramedics arrived, who took him directly to hospital and put into an induced coma. Todd had 3rd degree burns to his hand, and went to hospital and has been there since. They discovered he had an oversized right ventricle that he had no clue he had. He stayed for observation.
Crazy day, but we thought kyle was in stable condition (he was). He passed away friday morning around 8:30. The company is devistated, we are all a wreck. His wake it tomorrow night, and funeral is wedensday.
that's all i can really explain right now, as i have to go meet our class and have a talk with everyone. It's been a hard while.
Its hard to believe it happened, and there is no word as to what caused it, or ignited it yet.
There is a large support for us and his family. We all loved him. I will carry on his words of "living the dream" as he always used to say it when asked how he was doing.
Do him, and me a favor, and go hug your loved ones, and call your family. It takes a split second to change life, you may not have the chance to do so again, i learned that, for sure.
im so sorry to hear that.......all the times i almost started a fire when i was welding in college or how the jack broke while we were jacking up a car...man there are so many things that can cause terrible harm at a shop and man i send my condolences dave i really do...
hey dave here a virtual hug for you my havent met yet friend and well im living the dream,
i am sorry to hear the story man i will keep you, kyle and the rest of the shop in my prayers
"A man who is good enough to shed his blood for his country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards. More than that no man is entitled, and less than that no man shall have." --- Theodore Roosevelt, 4 July 1903
We had a body shop here in Houma catch on fire about 6 months ago. Burned to the ground. The explosion was visible for miles. No one was killed in that case though.
i guess ill try to add a little more...it kinda helps for me to do this, since most of us here aren't local, and i can sort of vent it out.
The media has really pissed me off in this situation. For a few reasons actually:
The day of, while in the bus, you can see the picture of me. I had a white blanket the paramedics gave me (since i was shivering from adrenaline, and my sweater and jacket were trapped inside). I saw this photographer in the used car lot ont he other side of the tape trying to snap a picture of me. I didnt want my picture taken, so i used the blanket as a shield and covered myself up, would let it down, and he was still trying. Finally after about the 5th time, i saw him smirking and giggling to himself as if to say "im gonna get a pic you you buddy" it pissed me off to the point where i almost wanted to run out and deck him. But would have made it worse, so he got his way.
Secondly, the medical supply center, where kyle went to stay warm until the ambulances arrived had employees talking to him while the chaos went on. They were interviewed and the article mentions how he talks about his 4 wheeler, and how fast she was. And how concerned he was for his car. The media left out how he loved his family, girlffriend and wanted to see or talk to them.
thirdly, the owners of the company were interviewed as well. They spent 90% of the interview talking about their shock, and how they care for kyle's family and loved ones. And if there is anything they can do, to let them know etc etc etc. They spent 2 minutes talking about the condition about the shop and it's approximate damages. The media put the shop details in instead of how they cared for the families involved. So to me, now, everyone in the city will see the owners as "business men who only care about the shop and their money" Which is not true.
This company is amazing, they are paying my higher than 95% of the shops in the city would pay a 1st year apprentice. they are compensating everyone until we are operational again, that includes the flat rate guys that bring in 160 hours every pay. They won't get 45 hours a week, then will get their full 160 hours they normally get, which in my opinion is a great thing to do as business owners. They have supplied counceling, shuttles for the funeral, meetings for us to meet, pizza, chips, pop, coffee anything. They are just amazing, and i'd hate to have anything happen to this company (even with my short 2 month stay so far)
Additionally, im still on probation here, and they wont lay me off, they will pay me my full hours most private places would lay me off to save a buck or two.
Throughout it all, after kyle was rushed to ICU, i sat in the bus speechless and could only think of how it could have been me. When my gf jessie showed up, i gave the biggest hug i have EVER given to ANYONE in my life. I was so relieved to have her there, to say i loved her one more time. I will never forget that feeling.
Saturday night i got together with friends like originally planned and had a few drinks. I was kind of "blah" the whole night but felt fine and talked. I said at one point to my sister that i wanted to cry, but i couldn't. A while after, my friend brian pulled me aside to a room, closed the door and gave me a big hug and said him and his gf loved me, and almost had a heart attack when they heard the news... All i needed to hear was i was cared for, and loved. I was water works for a good 20 mins. EVeryone else there crowded around to comfort me. And ever since i've been pretty good. I know i have good friends, and a loving family. If there is anything i learned, it is definatly that.
I could go on forever, but im gonna go back to sleep, im tired. Im sure ill add more later.
we dont know yet...
no word...labor board was investigating at first, but whe kyle passed away, CSI took over. They haven't informed anyone of anything yet.
My thoughts and prayers go out to you and Kyle's family, friends, co-workers, etc.
And one moment of silence before hitting submit.
CARS: 2010 Corolla S (bought new in 11/2010), 1990 Caddillac Fleetwood (4.5L V8, FWD, 55,000 miles). 1990 Kawasak Vulcan, not running. Awesome website: http://www.freetalklive.com (unless you love Government).
oh man, i can't even begin to understand what you must be going through Dave, i really am sorry for your lose. and im also sorry to hear about the media coverage being about the company loss more than the families loss
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most private places would lay me off to save a buck or two.
