Clues Sought in Blast That Injured 2 at Air Bag Factory

MOORPARK — Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of an explosion at a company last week that injured two workers, one of whom remains in critical but stable condition at Simi Valley Hospital.

Frank Snider, 26, of Simi Valley, suffered injuries to his abdomen, face and chest in the explosion Friday morning at Special Devices Inc., which makes triggering devices for air bags.

Alicia Gonzalez, a hospital spokeswoman, said Snider had part of his right arm and hand amputated, as well as his left index finger. He also is being treated for a left leg fracture and multiple chemical burns.

Jeremiah Calixtro, 32, of Moorpark, was released from Los Robles Regional Medical Center on Saturday morning after undergoing surgery for a deep abrasion on his right hand, hospital officials said.

A special team of Cal/OSHA investigators is looking into what caused the explosion, said agency spokesman Richard Stephens.

At the time of the accident, Snider and Calixtro were loading a highly explosive powder known as zirconium potassium perchlorate into a machine that inserts it into the air bag trigger.

Steve Baker, Ventura County Fire Department hazardous materials officer, said preliminary indications are that the chemical was ignited by a static charge in the room. Because the substance is so volatile, the electric charge could come from something as simple as the act of pouring water into a glass.