Taylorsville man nearly severs hand after explosion in Utah County

UTAH COUNTY, Utah — A 49-year-old man is in critical condition after his hand was nearly severed by an explosion Saturday morning.

At approximately 10 a.m., the Taylorsville man was on private property near Hancock Ranch Road when he entered a shipping container with several different kinds of flammable fuels, according to the Utah County Sheriff’s Office.

“He walked to the far end of the container, lit a portable propane heater, then walked back toward the entrance,” reads the sheriff’s office statement. “As he got to the entrance, the vapors inside the container ignited and exploded.”

First responders from Santaquin, Payson, Genola and Goshen responded and began first aid to the man. After stabilizing him, AirLife Utah flew him to the burn unit at the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City.

According to the sheriff’s office, the man’s injuries are life-threatening, as he sustained second-degree burns on about 35% of his body, with less severe burns on the rest of his body. His right hand was “nearly severed” due to the explosion.