Crime & Safety
UPDATE: Sailor Remains Hospitalized After Naval Weapons Station Earle Explosion
Seven others suffered minor injuries and were treated and released.
Article by Kaitlyn Anness, kaitlyn.anness@patch.com
A sailor remains hospitalized with a broken arm that required surgery after an explosion at Naval Weapons Station Earle Waterfront Complex in Leonardo Tuesday morning. Seven others were treated for minor injuries at local hospitals and released, according to a Navy spokesperson.
"The explosion occurred approximately 9 a.m. this morning while personnel were doing routine maintenance on a utility boat," Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Public Affairs Director Beth Baker said in a press release. "The damage from the explosion was contained within the boathouse area."
ABC News photos taken show a portion of the boathouse building's damaged roof.
The 27-foot aluminum utility boat employees were working on is used to support port operations at the installation, according to Baker.
Middletown Emergency Services, Monmouth/Ocean Health Care Cooperative and the New Jersey State Police NorthSTAR medevac helicopter transported the seven sailors and one Department of Defense civilian firefighter injured in the accident, Baker said in the release.
Ammunition and ordnance operations were not affected by the accident and the cause of the explosion remains under investigation, Baker said.
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