Whitman County employee seriously injured after explosion

COLFAX - A local man, 36, was severely injured with trauma to his head in an explosion while working for Whitman County Public Works on Duncan Springs Road on Thursday, June 8.

The injury and explosion were believed to have been caused by combustibles that the city employee was working with.

The investigation led detectives to find that the man was working with Toluene, a hydrocarbon that, when exposed to high amounts of heat, can cause a variety of ailments and injuries.

"It has to do with the production of paints and rubbers. I believe it was exposed to extreme heat," said Whitman County She...