Chemical Spill in Utah Kills 1 and Injures 6

NORTH SALT LAKE, Utah — Authorities evacuated about 1,000 people today within a 2 1/2-mile radius of an industrial park where a chemical spill killed the son of the company president and injured six others.

Later, the six, including two paramedics, were released after treatment for nausea and respiratory complaints.

The area sewer system was not contaminated, officials said, but they were concerned about the possibility of fumes polluting the atmosphere.

Fire Chief Brent Argyle said Lee Hodson, 37, died at the scene of the spill, which occurred shortly after 7 a.m. at Hodson Laboratories Inc. The injured included passers-by, a policeman and the two paramedics, he said.

The industrial park, about 10 miles north of downtown Salt Lake City, contains several warehouses and other businesses.

Tried to Transfer Chemical

The dead man was the company’s chief of manufacturing and son of company owner Val Hodson, said Owen Hogle, executive vice president of the company.

The younger Hodson went to the plant early today to accept a shipment of trichloroethylene 111, a toxic industrial solvent, Hogle said. After the truck left, Hogle said Hodson tried to transfer the chemical from one steel tank to a second steel tank in the building, but the pipe broke, spewing the chemical.

Hodson was overcome in 15 seconds, Hogle said.

“Rather than follow procedure and evacuate immediately or put on breathing gear, he tried to turn off the valve. He was immediately overcome by fumes and collapsed in the solvent,” Hogle said.