Employee killed in explosion at Coral Gables gas station

CORAL GABLES, FLA. (WSVN) - Police are investigating after, officials said, an explosion at a gas station in Coral Gables claimed the life of a car wash employee, Saturday evening.

According to Coral Gables Fire Rescue, the explosion took place at the Gables 76 gas station at 296 Andalusia Ave, on a busy corner located one block off Miracle Mile, just before 5:30 p.m. Officials said a malfunction with an air compressor inside the station appears to have caused the blast.

Miami-Dade Police have been called in to investigate the explosion. They said the victim, identified as 41-year-old Henry Salzedo, called his boss for help before he was killed. Investigators said he told his employer that there was something wrong with the compressor, that it would not turn off. The explosion happened while the employer was en route to assist.

Jessie Gonzalez, who works nearby, told 7News she heard the explosion. “We all ran out because a lot of our employees sometimes pass by [the station], you know, get chips or something to eat,” she said, “and it was just a bunch of cops, people were praying and stuff. I believe one of our kitchen staff went to the back, and they came back and they just said that there was someone who was dead.”

The owner of the gas station told 7News that Salzedo worked for a company that leases the garage that’s part of the property.

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