Sandusky man dies from explosion

MILAN TWP. — Thomas F. Layton loved to race motorcycles as part of a tight-knit motorcycle community, and he loved his family, including wife Rosemary, son Tim, of Toledo, and daughter Tabitha, of Bellevue.All were struggling Wednesday with Layton's unexpected death after an explosion at about 7 a.m. Tuesday at Coles Energy while he was transferring fuel between fuel hauling trucks.Milan fire Chief Brian Rospert previously told the Register it appeared there was a static charge that caused the explosion because of the fuel vapors in the air.Layton, 70, who lived in Sandusky, sustained trauma to his upper and middle torso, head and arms, as well as burns, his family said. Layton was transported from Coles Energy to Fisher-Titus Medical Center in Norwalk, then flown to Cleveland Metro Hospital. Doctors pumped 36 units of blood into Layton's body throughout Tuesday in a failed fight to save his life, according to Rosemary."They came in and said, 'We have done all we can do,' and perhaps I needed to make a decision," Rosemary said.He was pronounced dead at 11:02 p.m. Tuesday.On Wednesday, Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors were at Coles Energy investigating the incident and talking to employees, automatic in a workplace fatality, OSHA spokesman Scott Allen said.Coles Energy did not return phone calls to its corporate office Wednesday. Rosemary said officials and employees from Coles Energy were with her the entire day Tuesday.Layton and Rosemary knew each other for six years, meeting while Rosemary managed a gas station to which Layton delivered fuel for District Petroleum. Layton started to work for Coles Energy about four years ago, she said.The couple married in Las Vegas three years ago.That day has now become Rosemary's happiest memory."Just the happiness we had that day," she said.Layton had a fun spirit, but he also had a quiet side to him, Rosemary said.She said she is still in shock and expects to see him whenever she turns a corner of the house they shared.When the Register asked Rosemary who Layton was, she said, "I will show you who he was."In the garage was two pristine motorcycles.Layton rode motorcycles for about 50 years.He had raced his customized Suzuki Hayabusa GSX 1300 R this past weekend in Milan, Mich."He loved to race. He loved the competition, and he loved how tight-knit everyone is. They have been posting on his Facebook. I have read them a couple times," Rosemary said, tears coming easily.Next to Layton's Suzuki was his Harley-Davidson.It was the motorcycle they rode on together, including on their first date, Rosemary said.The last ride she and Layton would take together was last summer. They did not have a chance to ride together this year.Thomas F. Layton died at 11:02 p.m. Tuesday as a result of injuries sustained in an explosion while at work transferring fuel.