Man killed in barrel blast

BY DENIS J. O’MALLEY

Times-Shamrock Writer

A Hop Bottom man died Monday when a torch he was using to cut a fuel drum in aWyomingCountygarage where he worked sparked an explosion, authorities said.

Lucas Mitchell, 26, was using a torch to cut a drum that had contained a flammable material in Clarks Garage in Clinton Twp. on Monday when the torch he was using sparked residual vapors in the barrel, causing an explosion, Lackawanna County Coroner Tim Rowland said in a press release Wednesday.

The blast sent a piece of metal shrapnel into Mitchell’s head, inflicting a fatal injury, Rowland said.

Mitchell was transported toGeisingerCommunityMedicalCenterinScrantonafter the4:30 p.m.incident and died about two hours later, Rowland said.

An autopsy conducted Tuesday found that blunt force cerebral trauma caused Mitchell’s death. The manner of death was determined to be accidental, Rowland said.

State police are investigating the incident.