A propane tanker explosion killed Burd H. Bachman of Orwigsburg, Chrles Ray Erb of Pottstown, Earl Hillbish of Orwigsburg, Leon E. Kimmel of Orwigsburg, Clifford D. Kriner of Orwigsburg, James S. Leitzel of Shenandoah, Arthur Meyers of Pottsville, Paul R. Meyers, Sr. of Pottsville, William J. Sterner of Orwigsburg, Robert E. Wesner of Orwigsburg, and Wayne M. Wolfe of Pottsville. Those injured were John Barnhart of Sunbury, Kerlin Bashore of Hamburg, Adam Faust of Orwigsburg, Frank Fetterolf of Pottsville, Robert Koslosky of Port Carbon, Lauden Potts of Orwigsburg, George Reichert of Schuylkill Haven, Albert Rovito of Kulpmont, Walter Schwenk of Auburn, Joseph Warton of Peckville, and Walter Williams of Reading. Bravery and quick thinking that spared many other lives were especially credited to bus drivers Ronald Kramer and Russell Klahr, Sgt. Frank Evans, Trooper Earl Klinger and fellow officers, Orwigsburg fireman Earl Hillbish and fellow firefighters, and truck drivers Walter Williams and John Barnhart.