THIRD PERSON DIES AFTER BURLESON CO. OIL WELL BLOWOUT

  

A third person has died following an oil well blowout last week in Burleson County.

Chesapeake Energy representative Gordon Pennoyer confirmed this (Monday) morning in a statement that another contractor had died after suffering injuries in the incident last Wednesday at a wellsite along County Road 127 near Deanville.

Chesapeake and law enforcement have yet to identify the three workers who were killed, or the one survivor who remains hospitalized.  However, the family of 38-year-old Windell Beddingfield has come forward identifying him as the contractor that died at the scene of the explosion.  The victim who died Saturday from injuries was identified by family as 25-year-old Brian Maldonado of San Diego in South Texas.

Friday, Chesapeake stated the victims were not their employees, but instead were employees of contractors C.C. Forbes and Eagle Pressure Control.

The family of Beddingfield has filed a temporary restraining order and temporary injunction against Chesapeake Energy Corporation and Chesapeake Operating, L.L.C.

Chesapeake has confirmed, “the fire has been extinguished and the well is secured”.  The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.