Two tank blast victims mourned as more details emerge
1944 M-18 'Hellcat' was firing rounds, with film crew on scene
Sheriff Shane Nelson identified the victims as Steven Todd Preston, 51, and Austin Tyler Lee, 22.
Nelson said his office was continuing its investigation into the explosion that occurred shortly after 3 p.m. off U.S. Highway 20E near milepost 24.
They are being assisted by the Oregon State Police Arson and Explosives Section, as well as the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The investigators are working closely with the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office. ATF officials said while you are allowed to have a tank in Oregon, they issue permits only for the gun on the tank and not the tank itself.
Autopsies are planned later this week at the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office near Portland.
Sheriff's deputies, OSP troopers and Bend Fire Department medics rushed to the scene when word came shortly after 3 p.m. Tuesday of the explosion, on BLM land, said sheriff’s Sgt. Nathan Garibay.
"This is a tragic day," Nelson told NewsChannel 21 at the scene Tuesday night. "Two families lost loved ones, and our hearts and prayers go out to those that loved ones today."
Preston was the owner and president of Sergeants Towing Inc. in Portland. One employee said Preston was a wonderful man and they are just focused on keeping his company working. Preston leaves his wife and two daughters behind. He was also the board director for the Military Vehicle Preservation Association. The organization's president, Kevin Lockwood, said safety is a very high priority for them, but he added that any activity with machinery involves the danger of something going wrong. Lockwood knew Preston for 7 years and said he was very knowledgeable about the hobby he had been practicing for 15 years.
1944 M-18 'Hellcat' was firing rounds, with film crew on scene
Sheriff Shane Nelson identified the victims as Steven Todd Preston, 51, and Austin Tyler Lee, 22.
Nelson said his office was continuing its investigation into the explosion that occurred shortly after 3 p.m. off U.S. Highway 20E near milepost 24.
They are being assisted by the Oregon State Police Arson and Explosives Section, as well as the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The investigators are working closely with the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office. ATF officials said while you are allowed to have a tank in Oregon, they issue permits only for the gun on the tank and not the tank itself.
Autopsies are planned later this week at the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office near Portland.
Sheriff's deputies, OSP troopers and Bend Fire Department medics rushed to the scene when word came shortly after 3 p.m. Tuesday of the explosion, on BLM land, said sheriff’s Sgt. Nathan Garibay.
"This is a tragic day," Nelson told NewsChannel 21 at the scene Tuesday night. "Two families lost loved ones, and our hearts and prayers go out to those that loved ones today."
Preston was the owner and president of Sergeants Towing Inc. in Portland. One employee said Preston was a wonderful man and they are just focused on keeping his company working. Preston leaves his wife and two daughters behind. He was also the board director for the Military Vehicle Preservation Association. The organization's president, Kevin Lockwood, said safety is a very high priority for them, but he added that any activity with machinery involves the danger of something going wrong. Lockwood knew Preston for 7 years and said he was very knowledgeable about the hobby he had been practicing for 15 years.
