AP reported that a tanker truck loaded with 6,000 gallons of hydrogen exploded and burned at a metals processing plant, burning the driver, injuring another worker and threatening an even larger storage tank.

The blast occurred after 6 PM Sunday at the Duferco Farrell Corp plant in Farrell, about 60 miles northwest of Pittsburgh near the Ohio border.

The truck from Air Liquide, a Houston based company that produces and distributes cryogenic liquids and gases, was at the plant offloading its hydrogen into a storage tank when the explosion occurred. The tanker then burned, endangering a storage tank that contained 12,000 to 14,000 gallons of hydrogen.

Mr Mike Hrycyk P HR said that plant workers and fire crews worked overnight to pour water on the storage tank until the tanker fire burned itself out about 7:30 AM.

He could not release the names of the driver, who was taken to the burn unit of a hospital in Akron with second degree burns or the driver's helper, who suffered some cuts and was treated and released at nearby Sharon Hospital.

The steel processing company converts the metal to coils and employs about 570 workers.

(Sourced fro AP)