Victim Identified In Fatal Truck Explosion At Olin/Winchester

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.