Oilfield death

WARD COUNTY The investigation into the Monday oilfield death of an Odessa man near Barstow continued Tuesday.

Ward County Sheriff Mikel Strickland said the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the Monday death of Raul Nevarez, 20. He was killed while working on CC Forbes Rig No. 109, 14 miles east of Barstow.

Strickland said Nevarez was thrown several feet after an explosion on a rig Monday afternoon.

"A valve exploded, and the pressure threw him on the floor," Strickland said. "We're not for sure yet, but he fell on some type of tool on the floor of the rig."

Nevarez was taken to Medical Center Hospital in Odessa where he died from his injuries.

Efforts to reach a representative of OSHA were unsuccessful late Tuesday. Traditionally, OSHA will not comment until an investigation is complete.