Natural gas pipeline fire leaves one worker dead in Midland County, Texas

A natural gas pipeline explosion and fires that happened last Wednesday in Midland County, Texas claimed the life of one of the injured workers.

Bud Taylor worked for Navitas Midstream Partners and was fatally injured when the natural gas pipeline caught fire and exploded, injuring seven workers.

Taylor was one of five workers and two firefighters responding to a gas leak when onne pipeline caught fire and initiated a series of explosions.

“With profound sadness, we confirm that one of our colleagues injured on August 1, 2018 in the pipeline rupture and fire in Midland County has succumbed to his injuries,” Navitas Chief Executive Bruce Northcutt said over the weekend. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues.”

Taylor, 63 was from San Angelo, Texas and worked for 30 years in the energy industry. He had worked two years at Navitas and was manager of operations services.

He died two days after the fiery explosion. Workers had been airlifted to the University Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas.