Two people were killed and 12 others were injured after an explosion at Coryell Memorial Hospital on Tuesday afternoon. Everyone injured was a construction worker working on a $42 million expansion project.
A GoFundMe for one of the workers, Wilber Dimas, has been set up. Dimas was taken to Dell Seton Medical Center in Austin with burns on 70 percent of his body, including his face, back and upper torso.
Lochridge-Priest, the company where the construction workers were employed, said GoFundMe accounts have also been created for five injured men, and one of the men who died. The company said Aaron Haveron, Richard Studer, Vernon and Jeff Barabas and Matt Aaron were all injured in the blast.
Michael Bruggman was the first person killed.
The Coryell Memorial Hospital evacuated patients after the explosion. Meadows Nursing Home also relocated patients by personal cars and church vans as a precaution.
Victims were taken to hospitals across Texas, including Temple, Waco, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio. Residents in long-term care were taken to Hillside Medical Lodge, The Meadows Longterm and First United Methodist Church in Gatesville.
Hillside Medical Lodge is taking donations for the 20 residents that have been displaced there. They are especially in need of non-skid socks, reading glasses and medium to large nightgowns.
Westville Manor in McGregor will also be housing some of the residents from Gatesville. They are in need of individual vanilla puddings to give medication with and pajamas.
Two sisters are selling "Gatesville Strong" t-shirts and decalsas well as collecting donations for the families of the injured construction workers. For more information on the shirts, click here.
A baked potato fundraiser was created to benefit two victim's families from the explosion. Hundreds of potatoes were sold to support those families.
Baylor Scott & White is asking for blood donations.
There will be a mobile blood drive at the Baylor Scott & White Clinic in Gatesville on July 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All donors will receive an "I Donate For Gatesville" t-shirt and a voucher for free Bluebell ice cream.
You can also contact the Scott & White Blood Donor Center at 877-724-4376 or go online to schedule your donation. Walk-ins are also welcome, on a first-come-first-serve basis.
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