The victim has been released from the hospital, a spokesperson told KVUE.
AUSTIN — A Goodwill employee has been released from the hospital after a minor explosion was reported in southwest Austin Tuesday.
Police described the device as an « artillery simulator, » which may have been donated by a person who may not have known how to properly dispose of military mementos. Officials said there is not currently reason to believe this incident is related or a « copy cat » of the previous explosions in Austin and Schertz.
Austin-Travis County EMS said Tuesday that officials responded to Brodie Lane and West Slaughter Lane after the call came in at 7:02 p.m. The Austin Fire Department reported to 9801 Brodie Lane. Officials said a male in his 30s was taken to St. David’s South Austin. He was treated and later released, a spokesperson for St. David’s South Austin Medical Center told KVUE.
Goodwill Austin tweeted that all locations would be closed following the explosion.
Senior Leadership and authorities are investigating a possible explosion at a south GW store. It is our understanding that a Team Member is being treated for non-life threatening injuries. In an abundance of caution for our Team and customers, all Goodwill Stores will be closed.
Central Texas Goodwill’s CEO Jerry Davis told KVUE that he believes the employee saw something unusual while looking through donations that « looked like a pipe » and contacted a manager to say they didn’t feel comfortable with it. The employee started to take it out, it dropped and the device exploded, Davis said.
Authorities told KVUE and Austin American-Statesman reporter Tony Plohetski said there may have been a second device at a location in South Austin, but Plohetski later confirmed that it appears to be related to a vehicle fire, not a second device.
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APD told KVUE that police were evacuating businesses near the Brodie Lane explosion, but would not disclose which businesses they were.
Officials with Austin ISD told KVUE that Bowie High School was placed under a reverse lockdown, meaning everyone was ordered to go inside the building. The reverse lockdown has now been lifted. No other schools in the area are affected as of yet.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Follow all our coverage at www.kvue.com/austinexplosions
