Criminal probe being conducted into fertilizer plant explosion
Volunteer paramedic under scrutiny
The Texas Rangers and the McLennan County Sheriff's Department Officials are helping to conduct a criminal investigation into the April 17 explosion in West, Texas that killed 14 people and demolished hundreds of homes.
Although the incident was initially treated as an industrial accident, the two agencies were directed to conduct a criminal probe in order to make sure that all possibilities are considered, according to a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety. An estimated 60 investigators have conducted hundreds of interviews so far. The state fire marshal’s office said weather, natural causes, anhydrous ammonium and ammonium nitrate in a nearby rail car have been ruled out as possible causes for the explosion.