N.H. Sears worker killed in tire explosion

SALEM, N.H. (Dec. 23, 2015) — A 22-year-old New Hampshire tire technician was killed and another person injured when a large truck tire exploded Dec. 19 at a Sears Auto Center in Salem, according to a Boston TV station report based on police statements.

CBS Channel 4 Boston station WBZ-TV said Salem police offers responded to a reported explosion near the Mall at Rockingham Park at 7:53 a.m. on the 19th and found Sears employee Justin Almon, of Sandown, N.H., suffering from “life-threatening injuries from blunt force trauma to his head.”

Mr. Almon was rushed to the Parkland Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead soon after, according to the TV station. It added that Adam Sproul, 23, of Boothbay, Maine, was also injured in the tire explosion and was airlifted to Lawrence General Hospital and then Boston Medical Center with a serious head injury.

According to a police statement quoted by Channel 4, a “preliminary investigation revealed the Sears Auto worker was in the process of fixing a large truck tire on an industrial tire changer when the incident occurred.

“The incident is currently being investigated by Salem Police Investigative Services Unit, as well as Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) officials.”

A subsequent report stated that 911 callers “were frantic,” with one saying, “They were filling up a tire and it exploded!”

Salem Police Sgt. Chad Clark told the TV station that Mr. Almon was working with an industrial tire changer, “where the tire is mounted on the rim and it seals it into place and then it inflates at the same time.

“So the whole tire and rim came up and the victim was leaning over we think, and that's when it hit him in the head.”

Channel 4 cited a statement Sears issued about the accident: “First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with the family of our associate, and we send our deepest condolences to them. We also send our thoughts and concerns to our customer who was injured in this tragic accident. We are working closely with local authorities as they investigate this matter.”