UT spokeswoman Rhonda Weldon says Tuesday's accident involved equipment failure in a metal building in Leander, leading to an explosive release of gas. The lab, run by the UT Institute for Advanced Technology, does research on high-velocity projectiles.
James Swartz was driving his truck and was about 50 feet from the site when the structure exploded. Swartz was treated for minor injuries and released from a hospital.
Officials say five workers running an experiment were not injured.
UT environmental and safety experts will help investigate the accident in Leander, about 20 miles northwest of Austin.
