EAST ALTON – Madison County Coroner Steve Nonn is reporting the identity of the victim of a fatal truck explosion that occurred yesterday afternoon at the Olin/Winchester facility in East Alton, IL. The deceased family has been notified and he is identified as:
Oscar “Zeke” R. Bettorf
White Male
Age: 60
Bunker Hill, IL.
Mr. Bettorf tragically lost his life following a job site-related accident. He was the driver of a semi-truck with a trailer loaded with shotgun shell primers that exploded while being transported inside the Olin property. Madison County Coroner’s Investigator Kyle Burgess responded to the scene at the request of the East Alton Police Department. He pronounced death at 5:34 pm.
The cause of the explosion remains under joint investigation by Olin Security, East Alton Police, Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigations, Secretary of State Police Bomb Squad, State Fire Marshall’s Office and the ATF.
An autopsy was performed and preliminary results indicate that Mr. Bettorf suffered blunt trauma to the head, neck, chest, and pelvis.
A final autopsy report is pending toxicology and microscopy examination.
Funeral arrangements remain pending at this time with the Weber-Rodney Funeral Home in Edwardsville, IL.
