Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office and the State Fire Marshal’s Office Investigate Bulldozer Explosion

ZANESVILLE, OH – The Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office and the State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating an explosion at the Just Junk It Salvage Yard.

According to Sheriff Matt Lutz, they received several 911 calls in regards to a bulldozer explosion and the operator being badly burned, at 1740 Licking Rd. around 9:15 Thursday morning

Lutz says upon arrival, Sheriff’s Deputies and Falls Township Fire Crews, identified the operator of the dozer as 52-year-old Stanley Knox, an Owner of Just Junk It.

“He was alert but was badly burned out of this deal.” Sheriff Lutz said. “He was transported by Falls Township up to Genesis with serious injuries. From talking with the witnesses and looking at the evidence out there, it appears that when Mr. Knox was operating the dozer, he struck a filled propane tank that might have been partially buried. This caused it to rupture and leak back on the dozer and a fireball exploded on the dozer which is what caused him to get burned.”

Lutz says no one else was injured in the explosion.

An investigation is on going at this time, we will provide you updates as they become available.