Gas Leak Kills 1, Injures 14 at Plant

One man was killed and at least 14 people were injured when a cloud of ammonia gas escaped through a valve at a food refrigeration plant. The dead and injured all were plant employees; two people were being treated at a local hospital and 12 others were being evaluated at the scene, a Fire Department spokeswoman said. The leak at the Oregon Freeze Dry Co. in Albany had not been stopped, and evacuations were being considered if the leak continued unchecked, she said. Hazardous materials teams were on the scene. The cause of the leak was not known. The plant is in an industrial part of the city, about 75 miles south of Portland. Ammonia is a colorless, pungent gas that is dangerous to breathe and damaging to the skin.