UT halts high-velocity research at damaged site

LEANDER, TX -- The University of Texas has stopped high-velocity projectiles research at a lab where an explosion left a passer-by hurt.

UT research official Juan Sanchez said Thursday that the metal building is not structurally adequate for such experiments. The UT Institute for Advance Technology does research for the military.

A driver was injured by debris during an explosion Tuesday that left holes in the leased building in Leander, about 20 miles northwest of Austin.

Sanchez told the Austin American-Statesman (http://bit.ly/LpuHXp ) that a piece of a launcher broke off and was propelled by high-pressure hydrogen gas.

Sanchez says UT will repair the structure, which the school has used since 1990 when the area was less populated, for less high-impact experiments.

Further details weren't immediately released on plans for the higher-velocity research.

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