El Paso, Texas – A Sun Metro employee in El Paso, Texas, recounted a terrifying experience after a deadly explosion at the maintenance facility on February 11. The employee, who opted to remain unidentified, was only a few feet away from the explosion and even captured exclusive footage of the aftermath.
Describing the incident, the employee mentioned working on a bus when the explosion occurred, causing a wave of force that pushed them off a ladder. The employee recalled seeing flames all around as the impact of the blast sent them tumbling to the ground.
Witness photos from the scene depicted a collapsed roof, debris strewn across the area, and a charred vehicle overturned. The walls of the facility and other buses belonging to Sun Metro were also blackened, with ash covering the floor.
Tragically, two Sun Metro fleet maintenance technicians, Ruben Ibarra and German Garcia, lost their lives in the explosion. The employee revealed that the incident has left many colleagues traumatized, with some requesting transfers or resigning from their positions.
The aftermath of the explosion has caused a ripple effect, prompting concerns among employees about their safety while working with buses. Investigations into the cause of the explosion are still ongoing by the El Paso Fire Department and the City of El Paso.
As the community mourns the loss of the technicians and grapples with the aftermath of the explosion, updates on the investigation will continue to be shared as new information arises.