Truck driver killed in Rosemount ammonia leak identified

ROSEMOUNT, Minn. -- Federal investigators will try to determine what caused an anhydrous ammonia leak that killed a truck driver and injured three other people in Rosemount.

The truck driver, 31-year-old Robert Larry Shue of Kinsfisher, Oklahoma, died when the ammonia leaked during loading at the CF Industries ammonia terminal Monday evening.

The other trucker injured in the incident was 56-year-old Roy Thomas Taylor of Moore, Oklahoma.  He remains hospitalized in critical condition at Regions.

Both victims were loading their tankers around 6 p.m. Monday night when one of them noticed a connection problem and attempted to correct it.  There was then a break in the connection, causing a release of ammonia.

Several other semi-tankers were at the facility waiting to be loaded.  Drivers of those tankers and employees of CF Industries witnessed the incident and attempted to aid the victims as soon as possible.  The ammonia prevented immediate action but responding officers and drivers were able eventually reach the victims.

Two law enforcement officers were exposed to ammonia as they rushed in to help.  Those officers are identified as Officer Scott Sandell of the Rosemount Police Department and Deputy Matt Schuster of the Dakota County Sheriff's Department. 

The exposure to ammonia is believed to have occurred from the residue on the victims' clothing and the surrounding area. 

Officer Sandell and Deputy Schuster, along with another tanker driver, pulled Taylor about 35 feet so he could be safely treated.  Both officers were evaluated at Regions Hospital and released.

An emergency system shut off the ammonia before it became a risk to the public Monday night.

The cause of the hazardous materials release is still under investigation by Minnesota OSHA.

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