State work-release prisoner killed in blast while welding fuel tank

ROCKPORT, Maine (AP) — A state prisoner on a work-release program was killed in a fuel tank explosion while he was working as a welder for an employer in Rockport, the Maine Department of Corrections said Saturday.

Sean Rancourt was welding the diesel tank when it exploded Friday afternoon, sending debris flying at Rockport Steel, officials said. He was treated at the scene but died at a hospital.

Rancourt, 39, of Waterville, began serving a prison sentence in 2018 for trafficking drugs and was being detained at Bolduc Correctional Facility, a minimum security pre-release facility.

Consistent with state policy on prisoner deaths, the attorney general’s office, state police and medical examiner were notified. The fire marshal’s office is investigating the blast.