(ESCATAWPA, Miss.) Nov. 23 -
Officials are still trying to determine what caused an explosion that killed two people Friday at VT Halter Marine near Moss Point, Mississippi. The victims have been identified as Dwight Monroe, 52, of Moss Point and Alex Cahbellera, 25, of Pascagoula ."I love you baby...and I love you too honey, I love you." Those were the last words said between Lois Torres and her husband Alex Cahballera. 25 year old Cahballera was killed last Friday when he was cleaning a 120 foot tug-boat that pushes barges. He was one of several crew members preparing the boat for painting when the vessel exploded.
His mother, Sandra Cahballera-Murphy says, "I haven't started mourning my son yet because I want to be here for her." His wife and mother were shopping when they started to panic because they couldn't reach Alex. She says, "it was 6:00 and we were calling him on our way home and we still didn't get a response and we were driving home and we got the call." Telling them their husband and son was now gone.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, otherwise known as OSHA, has taken over the investigation but the cause of the explosion is still unknown. One employee says, "That could’ve been me but it just so happens that I wasn't there." Chris Holmes works at the shipyard but left work just in time; a half hour before the explosion happened. He says it's a somber day at work with safety being the main focus. Holmes says, "We’re really just trying to step the safety up a little bit."
Officials with OSHA say Halter Marine’s facility in Moss Point was fined $975 in 2008 for a serious wiring issue. They say it’s the only violation the company has ever had.
Officials tell LOCAL 15 News it could be as long as six months before the investigation is complete.
