Worker dies after blast at metal shop

A worker at a metal-plating plant in Chester County died yesterday from burns suffered in a boiler explosion Saturday night that critically injured two coworkers.

The three men were working about 9:45 p.m. in the melt shop at Mittal Steel in South Coatesville when the boiler exploded. Two men were flown to the Crozer-Chester Medical Center, where one later died and the other was in critical condition, a nursing supervisor said last night.

The third worker, identified by family as 38-year-old William Solen Jr., was airlifted to Temple University Medical Center, where he was in critical condition yesterday, his mother, Janice Solen, said.

Police and fire officials were not available for comment yesterday. The Chester County Fire Marshal could not be reached for comment about the cause of the blast and a Mittal Steel spokesman did not return calls.

Mittal Steel, formerly ISG Plate, is in the old Lukens Steel complex in South Coatesville. The company provides steel plating for industrial uses.