UPDATE (January 27, 2026): OSHA statements list 48-year-old Michael Evans and 36-year-old Melissa Mungia as victims in the Panhandle Milling explosion accident. Additional details are unavailable.
Deaf Smith County, TX — July 23, 2025, Melissa Mungia was killed and three were injured following an explosion accident that happened around 3:30 a.m. off FM 809.
According to preliminary statements, the incident happened at Panhandle Milling, located at 4805 FM 809, southwest of Amarillo.
Investigators said that 36-year-old Melissa Mungia and others were working at the plant. For reasons unclear, an explosion occurred, causing a building to collapse. Following rescue efforts, reports say that emergency responders found 36-year-old Melissa Mungia deceased.
Three other workers were taken from the scene with reported burn injuries. Their current conditions are unclear. Right now, additional details about the accident are unavailable.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
So soon after a chaotic accident, it’s not unusual to see few available details. However, a lot of people may be tempted to assume OSHA is going to come in and sort everything out. In reality, that’s rarely ever enough to truly address the needs of workers and families affected by accidents like this. Texas has the most complex work accident laws in the whole country, and it often takes a lot more than an OSHA investigation to resolve things.
For one, workers and families are not always guaranteed benefits after an accident, as many believe. Some employers opt out of the workers’ comp system, which means it’s up to them to decide how they resolve things after an accident. This often leaves families in a position where they need their own experienced allies who can stand toe-to-toe with an employer and work toward a fair resolution that meets their needs.
Beyond that, though, some accidents happen due to such unbelievable mistakes that even workers’ comp can’t guarantee a fair resolution. In Texas, if a worker is killed due to an employer’s negligence, and that negligence was the result of egregious actions that “shock the senses,” the employer may be responsible beyond the confines of a typical workers’ comp case. Digging into delicate matters like that almost always require independent investigators who aren’t bound by their own priorities, like OSHA tends to be.
Whatever happened here, there will have to be careful and thorough investigations to get to the bottom of what went wrong. But more than that, there may be a legal maze standing between the families involved and the resolution they deserve. Taking steps early to anticipate that maze can make all the difference in the world for workers and families alike. I see no reason right now why this one would be an exception.
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