Madison County coroner IDs man killed in truck explosion at ammunition plant

A 60-year-old Bunker Hill man died in a truck explosion Thursday at an ammunition plant in East Alton, the Madison County coroner announced Friday.

Oscar “Zeke” R. Bettorf was identified as the victim at the Winchester plant owned by Clayton, Missouri-based Olin Corp., Coroner Steve Nonn said in a news release. Bettorf was pronounced deceased at the plant Thursday afternoon.

“He was the driver of a semi-truck with a trailer loaded with shotgun shell primers that exploded while being transported inside the Olin property,” according to the news release.

Nonn said the cause of the explosion at 600 Powder Mill Road remains under joint investigation by Olin Security, East Alton Police, Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigations, Secretary of State Police Bomb Squad, State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Also, a spokeswoman for the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration said the agency is investigating whether any safety regulations were violated.

A spokesman for the East Alton Fire Department said his department responded to the scene but he could not release any details about the explosion.

“We are deeply saddened that a Winchester employee was fatally injured Thursday afternoon in an incident involving a company vehicle at the company’s East Alton facility,” Olin said in a statement. “This is a tragedy, and we will conduct a full investigation to determine what happened. The safety of our employees, the community, and our environment is always our top priority.”

An autopsy was performed and preliminary results indicate that Bettorf suffered blunt trauma to the head, neck, chest and pelvis, Nonn said.

A final autopsy report is pending toxicology test results.

Funeral arrangements for Bettorf are pending with the Weber and Rodney Funeral Home in Edwardsville, Nonn said.