South Jersey Men Face Long Recovery After Freak Explosion

When Hurricane Irene slammed into the state two weeks ago, knocking out power and leaving flooding and destruction in its wake, utility workers had to scramble to get things back to normal.

PSE&G workers Zigmont “Zig” Ulinski, 32, of West Deptford, and Robert Hatz, 54, of Collingswood, were among the South Jersey crews that headed north, well outside their normal assignment area, to help in the recovery.

They became PSE&G’s first victims of the storm, though, after a freak explosion on Sept. 3 left both men badly injured and in St. Barnabas Burn Center in Livingston.

Now, a week and a half later, family members can only watch and wait, and hope for a complete recovery.

“It’s definitely a shock for all of us,” said Jeremy Hatz, Robert’s son. He’s juggled his job, his studies at Rutgers-Camden and visits to his father’s bedside, while his mother has been in Livingston since the accident.

The two were working in Manville’s Lost Valley neighborhood, a stretch of homes in central Somerset County bordered on one side by the Millstone River and on the other by an elevated rail line.

It’s a neighborhood that was left largely underwater after Irene blew through, and Ulinski and Robert Hatz were there to check on things as floodwaters were receding.

But as they headed into the basement of a home on Huff Avenue, Manville police said an overheating boiler exploded, destroying the basement stairs and leaving both men burned, and Robert Hatz with a broken jaw and internal injuries.

Jeremy Hatz said his father and Ulinski were likely just yards away from the boiler when it exploded, and his father caught the brunt of the concussive force from the blast, which accounted for the internal injuries.

Robert Hatz was burned over 20 percent of his body, with mostly second-degree burns, Jeremy Hatz said, but Ulinski has considerably more burns.

Doctors at St. Barnabas told the families the men are improving, but they remain in intensive care, and haven't given a timeline for their recovery.

“They said it’s a roller coaster, you never know what’s going to happen,” Jeremy Hatz said.

What’s made it easier so far has been the help of neighbors and family support, he added.

“We’re all coming together for it,” Jeremy Hatz said.

And as part of that support, PSE&G is hosting a blood drive at its Audubon gas distribution center, at 535 W. Nicholson Rd. in Audubon, Thursday, Sept. 15 from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The drive is open to the public, and no appointments are necessary.