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Officials have confirmed two of the three workboat crew members involved in an implosion this morning have died from their injuries.

This is a developing story. Check back as more information becomes available.

PREVIOUS REPORTING

Three members of a workboat crew were seriously injured in a boat explosion at about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday at the JD Murphree Wildlife Management Area boat ramp off Texas 73.

Port Arthur Interim Fire Chief said the boat had taken on fuel and the explosion occurred when the captain tried to start the boat. The captain and another worker were ejected from the vessel, one through a window onto land and another out the back of the vessel into the water. 

A third crewman was on land between the boat and the fuel tanks and received blast injuries. A fourth crewman had walked to a truck to retrieve something and was not injured.

Havens said all three crewmen had serious injuries but no one died at the scene. Two were transported to The Medical Center of Southeast Texas and one was transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont. 

All three workers had varying degrees of life threatening injuries, he said.

PAFD is the lead agency in the investigation. They were assisted by Port Arthur Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 

Havens said they are bringing in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to assist in the investigation. He said the fire department sometimes works with ATF with any investigations involving explosions.