A large explosion could be heard all over Shelbyville on Monday morning. Reports from our news partner, the Shelbyville Times Gazette, indicates one employee suffered serious burns in a methanol explosion at Southern Energy. The facility is on Lane Parkway and fire crews responded to the plant at about 10:30am. According to News Channel 5, the Shelbyville Fire Department said it was unaware of any methanol stored on the property. Code violations could be raised in this case. 

An employee at the company was loading fuel into a tanker when the explosion occurred, Fire Chief Ricky McConnell said. The driver of the truck was identified as Mike Dinovo of Hillsboro, TN. He was seriously burned and taken by LifeFlight Helicopter to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. The man had burns to 50 percent of his body. As of late Tuesday afternoon Vanderbilt officials reported the Dinovo was in critical condition.

Fire experts were on the scene yesterday investigating the exact cause of the explosion.

Inmates at the neighboring Bedford County Workhouse spent Monday night in the National Guard Armory after the fire. The facility was not damaged, but the overnight stay was a precaution due to the excessive amounts of smoke that entered the nearby buildings after the fire.

For additional details, visit: http://www.t-g.com/story/2024962.html

T-G Photo by Jason Reynolds, Hugh Jones and David Melson

WGNS Partner Station Contact: David Melson