YORKTOWN, Va. (WAVY) — Two Coast Guard personnel were hurt in an explosion Friday morning at Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown.
The Coast Guard says it happened around 10 a.m. on a vessel during routine maintenance at the training center’s boat forces center.
While one victim was treated for minor injuries at the Training Center in Yorktown, the other was transported to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. The coast guard said the explosion is still under investigation. One person, who has a relative currently training at the Yorktown center, believes the problem started days ago.
“They noticed the smell which is out of the ordinary and it smelled like fuel. They communicated this to the instructors,” the citizen, who wishes to remain anonymous, said. “This is the first training these recruits have for real jobs in the coast guard and they have to be exposed to explosions?”
10 On Your Side asked The U.S. Coast Guard’s 5th District Public Affairs Officer Jonathan Lally about those claims, he said since this is an on-going investigation, they are unable to comment. Some citizens still have questions.
“You cannot put the service members lives in danger that’s ridiculous,” the citizen said.
The identities of the two injured have not been released. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.