Father of 3 killed in U.S. Steel plant explosion
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Timothy Quinn, 39, died Monday in an explosion at U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works. Photo: Courtesy of Facebook
Timothy Quinn, a 39-year-old father of three, was one of two workers killed Monday in an explosion at U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works.
The big picture: The blast — felt and heard for miles — was among the region's deadliest industrial accidents in recent years.
Zoom in: Quinn, of Westmoreland County, spent nearly two decades at the Clairton mill, where his father had worked for more than 40 years, his sister, Trisha Quinn, told WPXI. He was pronounced dead at the scene, per the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office.
- Tributes flooded social media, describing Quinn as a Pittsburgh sports fan with a big heart and a great sense of humor.
- "My heart hurts for this family and the sadness is hard," a family friend wrote on Facebook. "Timothy has 3 children who are gonna miss [him] terribly."
What they're saying: Gov. Josh Shapiro at a Tuesday news conference said Quinn was a devoted family man who had mentored colleagues and lifted spirits.
- "He was a guy who was there for others while being there as a leader in this plant," Shapiro said. "We have a responsibility to remember his legacy."
Between the lines: Trisha Quinn drove 45 minutes to the plant after hearing about the Monday-morning explosion, she told WPXI.
- She spent hours calling hospitals before her brother's death was confirmed, she said, pushing for better communication among first responders and affected families.
Context: An explosion tore through U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works plant just before 11am, killing two workers and injuring at least 10 others, authorities said.
- Crews spent hours digging through debris in search of victims.
- The second victim has not yet been publicly identified. That person's family requested anonymity for their loved one, officials said Tuesday.
The bottom line: Darrin Kelly, president of the Allegheny-Fayette Labor Council, called it a devastating day for the labor community, mourning the workers who had lost their lives.
- "We lost two of our people, and many more were injured doing a dangerous, important job," he said. "It's a reminder of how many men and women wake up every day and risk their lives to do work we all rely on."