Final Causes Of Death Released For 7 Killed In PA Factory Explosion

WEST READING, PA — The Berks County Coroner's Office this week released the final causes of death for the seven people killed in a March explosion at a West Reading chocolate factory, according to multiple reports.

The explosion happened on March 24 at the R.M. Palmer Co. plant, located about 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Preliminary findings by the National Transportation Safety Board determined natural gas caused the explosion.

In a news release obtained by the Reading Eagle, Coroner John Fielding said six of the victims died from blast injuries suffered in the explosion and the seventh victim died of thermal burns. Fielding ruled the deaths accidental, the Eagle reported.

The victims who died in the blast were:

• Xiorky D. Nunez, 30, of Reading, died of thermal burns.
• Susan H. Halvonik, 63, of Upper Providence Township, died of blast injuries.
• Michael D. Breedy, 62, of Marion Township, died of blast injuries.
• Diana M. Cedeno, 44, of Reading, died of blast injuries.
• Judith Lopez-Moran, 55, of Reading, died of blast injuries.
• Amy Sandoe, 49, of Ephrata, died of blast injuries.
• Domingo Cruz, 60, of Reading, died of blast injuries.

Fielding said the final manner of death was determined by medicolegal death investigations, in coordination with various federal and state agencies, WFMZ reported.

According to the NTSB report, more than 100 employees were working at the plant when the explosion happened in Building 2 shortly before 5 p.m. The blast destroyed the building, and nearby Building 1 sustained "significant structural damage," officials said.

According to the report, employees from Building 2 were sanitizing equipment when they smelled a natural gas odor. The report said employees in Building 1 recalled smelling "rotten eggs" around the same time.

Multiple employees were reported missing following the explosion, and authorities spent days searching for their bodies. According to officials, the last two were pulled from the rubble two days after the explosion, bringing the final death toll to seven.

In addition to those killed, 11 people were injured in the explosion, and three families were displaced from a nearby apartment building, the report said.

Recently, the U.S. Department of Labor ruled that R.M. Palmer was at fault for the deaths by not removing the employees from the manufacturing plant despite the workers' concerns about gas leaks. The company was also cited for not making clear emergency exit signs.