One person was killed and at least eight injured Friday in an explosion at a chemical plant in Donaldsonville, La., officials said, according to UPI. The accident was the second such explosion in two days at chemical plants in Ascension Parish; two people were killed and more than 100 injured in an explosion Thursday at the Williams Olefins plant in Geismar. Sheriff Jeff Wiley said an 18-wheel truck was loading product at CF Industries in Donaldsonville at the time of the 6:45 p.m. Friday explosion, The (Baton Rouge) Advocate reported. Eight people were taken to area hospitals, Acadian Ambulance Services spokesman Randall Mann said. Three people were killed and eight injured at the same in an explosion in 2000 that led to 14 citations for health and safety violations and a $149,850 fine from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The Donaldsonville plant is North America's largest nitrogen operation, the company says on its website.
