Industrial Worker Fatally Buried Under 3 Feet of Hot Tar
A worker was killed Wednesday in an industrial accident in South Houston after a storage tank at an asphalt facility ruptured, releasing a massive كمية of hot tar, authorities said.
The incident happened around 3:30 p.m. at the Martin Asphalt facility on Christy Place. According to reports, the tank failure sent roughly 50,000 gallons of hot black tar spilling across the property and onto nearby roadways. Officials said the worker was found buried under about three feet of the material. The body has been recovered, but the victim’s identity has not yet been released.
Authorities noted the tar was heated to approximately 210 degrees and is commonly used as a base layer in asphalt paving.
Cleanup operations are expected to take several days and may disrupt traffic as crews bring in heavy equipment, including a crane, to remove the damaged tank. Air quality monitoring has not indicated any danger to nearby residents, though officials said the strong odor of tar could persist.
Residents in the area reported hearing a loud explosion at the time of the rupture, along with seeing black smoke and debris. One nearby resident said asphalt landed around surrounding buildings and left her vehicle stuck.
Martin Asphalt, a subsidiary of Martin Resource Management, confirmed the fatality and extended condolences to the worker’s family. The company also said it has launched an internal review. The Pasadena Fire Marshal’s Office is leading the investigation into the cause of the rupture.
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