Sioux City Journal
By Julie Weeder
October 20, 2003

AGP blast claims second victim

Ed Notes: This is a tragic death caused from the soy industry's use of Hexane, a by-product of gasoline. How many more workers have to be poisoned, burned, and or killed before natural food consumers and producers just say no to hexane processed soy protein isolate?

A second person has died from injuries and burns sustained in the Aug. 29 blast at the Salix, Iowa, Ag Processing Inc. plant

Mark T. Croghan, 45, of Sioux City, died Saturday at Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. He had been hospitalized there since the explosion.

"If (Mark) believed in the cause, he went all out. He usually didn't get involved with causes he didn't believe in," family friend Virgil Handke said Sunday. "He gave it his all and he expected that from all participants," Handke said.

Handke and Croghan (pronounced Cron) were members of the West High dance squad's parents association and the dancing dads group. Croghan's son, Scott, is a sophomore at West High. Croghan is also survived by his wife, Carol, and son Adam, a junior at Iowa State University.

Handke said Croghan had fourth-degree burns on 80 percent of his body. His communication with family was very limited. He had been through several surgeries and had trouble maintaining his oxygen level.

"Mark is going to be really missed," Handke said. "I know he's going to be missed at his work, but also at his extracurricular activities at West High."

A benefit breakfast for Croghan and his family held Oct 11 raised $9,400.

"Their heart goes out in thanks to the community for the help they have given," Handke said.

Croghan was the second fatality from the explosion at the plant. Kyle Heck, 22, of Hornick, Iowa, died Sept. 9 at Nebraska Medical Center.

Six other men were injured in the blast: Richard Scott, 24, and Patrick Swanson, 44, both of Sioux City; Dusty Hannah, 26, of Moville, Iowa; William Beck, 47, of Onawa, Iowa; Carl Parker, 40, Eagle Grove, Iowa, and Eric Ploen, 23, of Kingsley, Iowa. They have all been released from medical institutions.

The explosion at the AGP soybean processing plant, located in the Port Neal Industrial Complex, occurred while the plant was shut down for scheduled maintenance. The State Fire Marshal's Office continues to investigate what ignited hexane gas and caused the explosion. Hexane gas is a highly flammable chemical used to extract oils from seeds and vegetables, including soybeans.

A fund for the Croghan family's medical and other expenses has been established at U.S. Bank. Checks can be made to the Mark Croghan Benefit Fund and mailed to U.S. Bank at 2900 Hamilton Blvd., Sioux City, Iowa 51104. Donations also can be made at the bank's Sioux City branches at 501 Pierce St. and 4608 Morningside Ave. and at its Onawa, Iowa, branch at 1030 10th St., Onawa.