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FLORIDA MAN INDICTED IN SAILOR’S DEATH FROM TOXIC CHEMICALS
Release Date: 02/15/2002
Contact Information:
FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2002
FLORIDA MAN INDICTED IN SAILOR’S DEATH FROM TOXIC CHEMICALS
Luke C. Hester 202-564-7818 / hester.luke@epa.gov
Luke C. Hester 202-564-7818 / hester.luke@epa.gov
Gilbert Thurston of Naples, Fla., former chief mate of the S.S.Trinity, was indicted on a charge of misconduct, stemming from an incident in which a crew member died after exposure to the toxic chemical methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE). Thurston allegedly allowed one of the ship’s crew, Frederic A. Cambra, Jr., to enter the ship’s cargo tank to clean out puddles of MTBE and sea water. The puddles had remained in the ship’s tank after it had delivered a load of MTBE to New York. Thurston, who was supervising cargo tank cleaning activities that day, was allegedly aware that the air in the tank had previously tested unsafe and that the ship did not have a confined space entry permit to enter the tank. Despite this, Cambra was allegedly allowed to enter the tank without an air purification respirator and collapsed. Efforts to resuscitate him were not successful. An autopsy determined that the cause of death was toxic fume intoxication secondary to MTBE exposure. If convicted, Thurston faces a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000. The case was investigated by EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard and EPA’s National Enforcement Investigations Center. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tampa. An indictment is merely an accusation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in a court of law.
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