CHICAGO, IL — A veteran Metra track inspector was killed when a tank containing acetylene gas exploded Saturday morning on Chicago’s Northwest Side, and a second worker was seriously wounded. Workers were at the site just before noon Saturday near the 4500 block of West Byron Street to perform cleanup work stemming from a major track replacement project, transit spokeswoman Meg Reile told Patch in an email Saturday evening.
A crew of about 17 workers were performing various activities, including welding rail joints. Around 11:45 a.m., a gas tank on a truck used by the welders blew up. One worker was reportedly declared dead at a hospital. The other was listed in stable condition at Illinois Masonic.
The employee who was killed had worked for Metra for 17 years. His name wasn’t immediately released, but Metra said he was 46 years old.
The scene was secured shortly thereafter and at least one train was delayed. The cause of the blast remains under investigation.
Old Irving Park is about 7 miles north of downtown.
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A voicemail message left with the Chicago Fire Department wasn’t immediately returned.
Photo credit: Lorraine Swanson/Patch