Carlsbad

A man was critically injured Friday afternoon in a chemical explosion in his Carlsbad laboratory, authorities said.

Herman Hockenhull, 42, was flown by Life Flight helicopter to UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest, said a Carlsbad Police Department spokesman.

Hockenhull was listed in critical condition Friday night with cuts on his face, chin and chest and second-degree chemical burns on his hands, a supervising nurse said. He also may have inhaled the toxic chemical Axide, the nurse said.

The 4:44 p.m. explosion prompted the evacuation of the building where Hockenhull was working in the 1900 block of Palomar Oaks Way, Carlsbad police said. Traffic was rerouted for two hours.

No other injuries were reported.