Two Claremore men are injured after a barrel they were attempting to cut open exploded.
The accident happened on Friday as the two men attempted to open a barrel that had previously contained wiper fluid. The two men have been identified as Gerald Negelein and Larry Richardson. The two were trying to turn the barrel into a trashcan when the accident occurred. Negelein suffered third-degree burns over 60% of his body, while Richardson sustained second and third-degree burns on 20% of his body. Negelein was airlifted to a nearby hospital where he was placed in a medically induced coma. Richardson was transported via ambulance.
The incident prompted the shutdown of all lanes of Highway 66 and Highway 410 in Rogers County to allow for the medical helicopter to land.
The Rogers County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident. The families of both men have set up GoFundMe pages to help with medical expenses.
