2 Men Killed in Kansas Fertilizer Plant Accident

Lawrence, Kan., authorities have released the names of two men killed in an accident at a fertilizer plant.

The Lawrence Douglas County Fire and Medical Department said the victims were identified as 51-year-old Roy Hillebert of Eudora, and 25-year-old Brandon Price of Lawrence.

The accident happened about 2:30 p.m. April 1 at the MagnaGro International plant on the east side of Lawrence.

Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical Chief Mark Bradford said a worker fell into a tank of a nonhazardous substance he wouldn’t identify. Authorities were still trying to determine how the second person died in the incident.

A third victim, as well as a firefighter, were treated and released from Lawrence Memorial Hospital. They were not identified.

The accident remains under investigation, and the cause of the men’s death will not been released until an autopsy is completed.

An answering machine at a number listed for MagnaGro said the plant was closed April 2. But owner Raymond Sawyer told the Lawrence Journal-World that he was in South Dakota and unaware of the accident.

Lawrence is about 50 miles west of Kansas City, Mo.