A 51-year-old man was injured in a May 21 house explosion in Benson, MN. Brian Orsten sustained burns to his hands and face when the house, located in the 1300 Block of Highway 9 Northeast, exploded. Benson is located about two and a half hours northwest of the Twin Cities. He was initially taken to Benson Hospital and then airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), a Level 1 Trauma Center, in Minneapolis.
Orsten and his wife had just returned from a trip to Ukraine where they are adopting three children. He was alone in the basement of the house when the blast occurred. Miraculously, he was able to climb out of the basement, shut off the propane tank and drive himself away from the scene. According to social media posts, Orsten is in stable condition but will need skin grafts on his hands which sustained third-degree burns.
Each year, about 40,000 in the U.S. are hospitalized for burn injuries, according to the American Burn Association (ABA). About 73 percent of those injuries occur in residential areas, 9 percent in recreational or sports settings, 8 percent in the workplace and 5 percent on roadways. Most often burn injuries are associated with fire. About 43 percent of burns are associated with fire or flames, 34 percent are scald injuries, the rest result from contact with a hot surface, electricity or chemicals, according to the ABA.
The Swift County Sheriff’s Office and State Fire Marshal’s Office are collaborating on the investigation of the explosion which is ongoing. They have not yet revealed their preliminary observations.
Explosion attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman represent clients nationwide who have been injured in explosions. They have won settlements over $10 million for clients who suffered severe burns. If you have questions about your legal options after a burn injury, contact them for a free consultation.
News Sources:
http://www.minnesota.cbslocal.com/2018/05/22/benson-house-explosion-man-injured/
http://www.willmarradio.com/news/benson-man-injured-in-house-explosion/article_05511846-5e03-11e8-bdb8-8b538a2403b7.html