The Harrowing Moment Caught by a Work Vehicle During the Deer Park Pipeline Explosion
Witnessing a tragedy unfold right before your eyes is something that leaves an indelible mark on your memory. For Devin Boone, a dispatcher at Total Marine Transportation, this became all too real when one of his company’s drivers inadvertently captured the crash and explosion at the Deer Park pipeline from across the street.
It was a regular morning for the driver as they made a routine stop at a business in La Porte, just across from the local Walmart. Little did they know that they would soon witness a heart-stopping event unfold right in front of them.
As the driver went inside the business along with a passenger, the van’s cameras kept rolling, capturing the moment a vehicle crashed into the above-ground valve of the pipeline, causing a massive explosion that sent flames shooting hundreds of feet into the air.
Boone recounted the scene, mentioning how the vehicle, a white SUV, crashed through a fence and into the pipeline at a high rate of speed, leaving behind a trail of destruction in its wake.
Despite the chaos unfolding around them, Boone’s driver and passenger managed to escape the building and attempted to reach the van, only to find the heat too intense to approach. The van, now left across the street from the fire, bore the brunt of the explosion, with melted plastic and damaged components serving as stark reminders of the intense heat generated by the fire.
When KHOU 11’s Matt Dougherty inspected the van firsthand, the exterior was charred, and the interior showed signs of severe heat damage, including melted air vents.
However, amidst the devastation, one question remained unanswered – the identity of the driver of the SUV that caused the explosion. Both the City of Deer Park and the police have remained tight-lipped about any details regarding the driver or their fate, leaving a lingering sense of mystery surrounding the tragic event.
As investigations continue and the community grapples with the aftermath of the Deer Park pipeline explosion, the memory of that fateful morning, captured through the lens of a work vehicle’s camera, serves as a haunting reminder of the fragility of life and the unpredictable nature of accidents.