Double-Fatal Incident At VA Hospital Caused By ‘Pressure Event’

WEST HAVEN, CT — Investigators have determined the double-fatal incident at the West Haven VA Hospital campus last week was caused by a “pressure event” within the steam system and not an explosion, according to Connecticut State Police.

Emergency crews responded to the VA campus at 950 Campbell Ave. around 8:15 a.m. on Nov. 13 on the report of a steam boiler explosion. Initial reports indicated there were multiple injuries with several fatalities and crews searched for additional victims, according to police.

Euel Sims Jr., 60, a Navy veteran who was working as a plumbing executive at the VA, and Joseph O’Donnell, 36, a contractor who was working on the steam system, were killed in the incident, police said. Three other people suffered minor injuries.

An investigation by the Connecticut State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit has determined that there was no fire or explosion but rather a “pressure event” within the steam system that was being worked on, officials said on Thursday.

“This event caused super-heated water vapor to rapidly fill the room and building,” officials wrote in a news release. “The two occupants working on the system were not able to evacuate the room and suffered fatal injuries. There was no apparent criminal aspect.”

The West Haven Police Department was tasked with investigating the untimely deaths.

The U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will be continuing the investigation, assisted by CSP-FEIU, the state Building Inspector’s Office, and West Haven Police Detectives.