84°
CLIFFVIEW PILOT PHOTO (No commercial re-use without permission)
PHOTOS: An electrician was in emergency surgery after an MRI machine exploded, injuring two of his co-workers, at the Oradell Animal Hospital this afternoon.
“The back blew off while they were dismantling the machine,” Bergen County Executive James Tedesco told CLIFFVIEW PILOT. “The one who was standing behind the machine took the full hit in the chest.”
CLIFFVIEW PILOT PHOTO (No commercial re-use of any photos here without permission)
He was in surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center. A co-worker was also brought there and another to The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood — both with less serious injuries, Tedesco said.
An interior ceiling partially collapsed, blocking a hallway and raising concerns that other people might be trapped inside after the 11:51 a.m. explosion.
But all 100 employees and 60 or so pets — dogs, cats and a bird — were accounted for and were moved over to Home & Kidz across the street, Hospital Administrator Alison Maglio told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
“The building is structurally sound. There are no environmental issues,” Tedesco said later, adding that OSHA and ATF inspectors and investigators were at the scene.
A search and rescue team joined Paramus firefighters, police, EMS and hazardous materials experts after the call came in just before noon. Hackensack and Clifton firefighters were among several other departments that responded.
PHOTOS: CLIFFVIEW PILOT Senior Correspondent Boyd A. Loving
Click here to follow Daily Voice Hackensack and receive free news updates.
