One woman is dead after passing through a leaked cloud of ammonia
By: Import User
Updated: July 21, 2009
One woman is dead after passing through a leaked cloud of ammonia at Tanner Industries in Swansea, South Carolina, Wednesday morning.
The Lexington County Coroner's Office identified the woman as 38-year-old Jacqueline Patrice Ginyard of Wagener.
At 7:57 a.m., officials received a call reporting a leak at the plant in Swansea. The first emergency response crew arrived at 8:07am.
Lexington County Emergency Medical Service treated 15 people at the scene and took seven of them to Lexington Medical Center. Two of the victims worked at the plant.
Then around 9:30 a.m., deputies found Ginyard's body near her car on US-321.
Witnesses say as Ginyard drove into the thick plume of ammonia, her car stalled. When she tried to get out and run, she just didn't make it.
Ginyard's death has been tough so far for her daughter, Marva Ginyard. She says she's holding on to happy memories and her faith.
"I feel like I'm lost without her," said Marva. "She was my mom, dad, best friend.”
Marva's older brother Marvin is coming into town on Thursday. She'll have to break the news to him, living the nightmare all over again.
"It's going to be sad, it's going to be harsh," said Marva.
The family is remembering an old phrase Jacqueline used to say. "Ya'll better be right for the Lord because I'm going when the Lord come for me, that's what she always used to say," said Marva.
Marva says she'll never forget their last conversation.
"I said, 'Mom, I love you, I'll see you tomorrow,'" said Marva.
As for the company, Tanner Industries is sending an investigation team to the facility. The team, consisting of people from Tanner Industries and the carrier, Werner Transportation, should arrive Wednesday evening. The US Chemical Safety Board has also joined in the investigation of the leak.
The leak is said to be under control, but authorities are still trying to determine how much was leaked.
