$204,000 in Fines in Connection with Death at Speedway Store

Federal workplace safety regulators have assessed more than $200,000 in penalties in connection with a deadly gasoline tank explosion at a Speedway store near Binghamton.

The September 20 incident at 704 Front Street in the town of Dickinson killed 57-year-old Arthur Hines of Syracuse.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's website indicates the agency is fining the company that employed Hines $204,353.

Hines was working for Environmental Products & Services of Vermont.

According to an OSHA summary, Hines was draining brine water while he was inside a 10,000-gallon fiberglass gasoline storage tank. A drill he was using ignited vapors, causing an explosion and fire. Hines died as a result of the incident.

OSHA assessed a $119,000 penalty for a "willful" violation and $85,000 for seven "serious" violations.

Miller Environmental Group acquired Environmental Products in December. A Miller official did not return a call seeking comment on the OSHA fines.

An OSHA representative did not immediately have additional information about the agency's investigation and conclusions.

David Cummings, a brother of Arthur Hines, said he had not been aware of the federal agency's conclusions regarding the incident.

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com

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