Woodville man burned in fire
By PAUL S. MARTINEZ The Enterprise

The day an immigrant realized the American Dream ended badly for the man, who now lies in a hospital with third-degree burns over his upper body.

It was opening day Thursday, Oct. 18 for the Fajita Mexican Restaurant, the newest eatery in Tyler County, about a mile south of Woodville.

Ricardo Gonzalez, 56, had worked towards this day for eight years at a Woodville lumber mill.

The place was packed for lunch when Ricardo Gonzalez went to adjust a propane-powered cooker beneath the buffet, his son, Enrique Gonzalez, said Oct. 18.

What happened next is still under investigation, Woodville Fire Marshal Forrest Archer said, but there was some sort of explosion. Ricardo Gonzalez caught on fire, Archer said.

He was flown to the burn center at the University of Texas Medical Branch Hospital in Galveston.

Woodville Police Officer Phil Ryan was in the restaurant on his lunch break and sprang into action, Archer said.

The officer ended up with second-and-third-degree burns on his hands and was treated at Tyler County Hospital, Archer said.

Two other people were burned as well - a woman with minor burns who was treated at the scene and another man who was treated at Tyler County Hospital.

Enrique Gonzalez said he does not know of any plans to re-open the restaurant.