OCALA - An explosion at a plastics processing plant killed one worker, left another hospitalized and forced the evacuation of dozens of employees Monday, officials said.
The blast occurred about 8:30 a.m. in a hopper containing wood chips at US Plastic Lumber Ltd., which uses plastic waste and wood to make building materials, furnishings and industrial supplies.
Scott Stokes, 34, of Ocala was killed. Michael Day, 26, of Ocala suffered minor injuries.
A huge fireball shot into the sky after the explosion, but no other injuries were reported as the company's 50 employees were evacuated, said Capt. Wendell Rora of the Ocala Fire-Rescue Department.
Officials were investigating the cause of the explosion.
