Worker Dies When Truck Tire Explodes at New Jersey Firm

June 1, 2009

A worker putting air in a retreaded tractor-trailer tire at a New Jersey business was killed when it exploded.

State police say Bruce Coverdale of Commercial Township died instantly in Friday’s accident at Advance Treads in Pittsgrove. Another staffer working nearby was not injured in the incident, which occurred around 8 a.m.

Coverdale had just filled the large tire with air while it was in a safety holder, but it exploded shortly after he removed it from the holder and tried to check its pressure. An autopsy determined Coverdale died from multiple blunt trauma injuries caused by the force of the air escaping from the tire.

Authorities say he was working on a Goodyear G134 Unisteel, whose air pressure probably was between 105 to 110 pounds per square inch when it exploded.