CARMI - A backfiring water pump likely caused the oil well explosion that killed two workers in White County in October, according to testimony given at a coroner's inquest.

A problem with the pump at the site near Crossville Oct. 29 caused oil to spray everywhere and gas to hover in the air over the oil well, surviving workers from Mason Well Servicing in Grayville testified, according to a report in the Evansville Courier-Press. Crew members had just ordered a water pump shut off when it backfired and likely caused the explosion.

Sam Fieber, 49, of Albion, the oil well operator, and Ronald Alldredge, 52, of Crossville, died in the explosion. Four other crew members were badly injured.