1 dead in northwestern Indiana grain silo explosion; safety investigation under way

UNION MILLS, Ind. – Authorities say an explosion at a grain silo in northwestern Indiana left one worker dead.

The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department says the explosion occurred Monday afternoon in a concrete grain silo at the Union Mills Co-op.

The department says in a news release that the victim was a co-op employee believed to be working in the silo when the blast happened. The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear.

The department says all other employees are accounted for and no other injuries were reported. It also says no hazardous chemicals were involved.

Indiana Labor Department spokesman Bob Dittment says a workplace safety investigation has begun. The co-op is about 50 miles southeast of Chicago

Deputy Sheriff Neil Lachmund says the co-op has multiple grain and fertilizer storage facilities.