One woman died and two men were injured Friday morning in an explosion at a Hornady Manufacturing plant west of Grand Island.
Hall County Attorney Marty Klein said the explosion happened in a chemical compound building at the Hornady plant at 8350 West Old Potash Highway, a Wood River address. That site is about four miles northwest of Alda on the site of the old Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant.
Klein did not identify the victims, but did say that one of the men showed symptoms of a concussion and the other showed symptoms related to breathing dust and fumes. Klein said neither of the injuries to the men were considered life-threatening.
Klein said the Hall County Sheriff’s office and the State Fire Marshal were on the scene early Friday afternoon to continue investigating the explosion.
Crews from at least four local fire departments were called to the scene just before 10 a.m. Friday.
Hall County Emergency Manager Jon Rosenlund confirms that Cairo, Wood River, Alda and Grand Island Rural Fire Departments as well as the Hall County Sheriff’s Office were called to the scene. A Grand Island fire department ambulance was also dispatched.
October 17, 2023 – Update from Hornady:
Hornady Mourns Following Fatal Incident
Hornady is devastated following a fatal incident that took the life of an employee in the primer manufacturing facility.
We are devastated for our employee, their family and loved ones, as well as the entire Hornady team. We are working with all agencies to investigate the cause. This production incident was isolated to our primer facility and did not impact any of the manufacturing facilities. We appreciate the outreach we have received while we grieve the loss of one of our own. – Steve & Jason Hornady
