BAKERSFIELD,CA - The Old Kern Power Plant on Rosedale Highway is still partially standing. But one year ago, demolition went terribly wrong.
"I was actually going to come out here and witness it," said Bakersfield resident Tom Payne.
Payne had plans to wake up early and watch the demolition.
"Man it was a good thing I slept in. That's all I can say. A terrible thing."
The implosion sent debris flying into a large crowd gathered across the street in the Lowe's parking lot. The implosion hurt five spectators and seriously injured one.
"I feel bad for the person who got hurt that day, you know," said Shafter resident Maria Ramirez.
Jerry Wood and his wife were watching the implosion more than a thousand feet away, when metal shrapnel nearly severed his legs.
Wood's attorney said the family was unavailable to speak on Sunday. His attorney says Wood is recovering from his last surgery on July 24.
17 News spoke to Wood in October and he said he was a happy to be alive.
"It does make you appreciate life and you see life through a different perspective. And, the problems that you had before aren't really anything to worry about," said Wood.
Wood has had at least 23 surgeries. Doctors took skin from his thigh and muscle from his back and stomach to fill in the damage in his left leg.
The site remained untouched after the incident while the California Public Utilities Commission and Cal-OSHA investigated the accident.
This year, state regulators cleared PG&E to finish the clean up.
PG&E says the demolition is expected to be complete at the end of the summer. That will be followed by soil remediation, which PG&E said will likely take several years.
The utility fired Cleveland Wrecking Company, the contractor that performed the implosion.
"I was actually going to come out here and witness it," said Bakersfield resident Tom Payne.
Payne had plans to wake up early and watch the demolition.
"Man it was a good thing I slept in. That's all I can say. A terrible thing."
The implosion sent debris flying into a large crowd gathered across the street in the Lowe's parking lot. The implosion hurt five spectators and seriously injured one.
"I feel bad for the person who got hurt that day, you know," said Shafter resident Maria Ramirez.
Jerry Wood and his wife were watching the implosion more than a thousand feet away, when metal shrapnel nearly severed his legs.
Wood's attorney said the family was unavailable to speak on Sunday. His attorney says Wood is recovering from his last surgery on July 24.
17 News spoke to Wood in October and he said he was a happy to be alive.
"It does make you appreciate life and you see life through a different perspective. And, the problems that you had before aren't really anything to worry about," said Wood.
Wood has had at least 23 surgeries. Doctors took skin from his thigh and muscle from his back and stomach to fill in the damage in his left leg.
The site remained untouched after the incident while the California Public Utilities Commission and Cal-OSHA investigated the accident.
This year, state regulators cleared PG&E to finish the clean up.
PG&E says the demolition is expected to be complete at the end of the summer. That will be followed by soil remediation, which PG&E said will likely take several years.
The utility fired Cleveland Wrecking Company, the contractor that performed the implosion.