Chicago

Memorial Honored 4 Men Killed in Waukegan Plant Explosion

Fire officials say they believe the May 3 blast was the result of an accident in factory processes

A memorial was planned to honor four men from Illinois and Wisconsin who died in a silicone plant explosion. 

AB Specialty Silicones factory general manager Mac Penman said the service was scheduled to take place Friday morning at the site north of Chicago. Fire officials say they believe the May 3 blast was the result of an accident in factory processes. Crews have spent the last week finding the remains of the men who died. 

Those killed were 53-year-old Byron H. Biehn of Brighton Township, Wisconsin, 57-year-old Jeff Cummings of Kenosha, Wisconsin, 24-year-old Daniel Nicklas of Beach Park, Illinois, and 29-year-old Allen Stevens of Salem, Wisconsin. 

Penman says there are plans to reopen the business. He says we have "lost our friends and colleagues and know that their families have lost even more."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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