Gas Main Explosion in Philadelphia Kills One PGW Employee, Injures Five Others
A gas main explosion in a Philadelphia neighborhood on the night of Tuesday, January 18, has left one Philadelphia Gas Works employee dead and injured five others. According to a myfoxphilly.com report, three other PGW workers suffered injuries and are considered to be in critical condition at the Temple University Hospital burn unit as of Wednesday morning. One firefighter was injured and reported to be in guarded condition.
While the exact cause of this Pennsylvania gas main explosion has yet to be determined, it has been noted that workers arrived at the scene around 7:30 p.m. to repair a 12-inch high-pressure gas main that had ruptured. The explosion occurred about an hour later, causing a fireball that burst 50-feet into the air. The blast reportedly destroyed a chiropractor’s office and the Red Cross stated that 15 to 20 families have had to be evacuated from their homes.
Gas companies are required to follow and implement specific safety rules and regulations to ensure that gas mains are properly installed, regularly monitored, and correctly repaired when necessary. If a gas explosion accident occurs due to some form of carelessness or oversight on the part of a gas company or a gas worker, they may be held legally responsible for resulting injuries, property damage, and fatalities.
The Philadelphia gas explosion accident lawyers at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP understand that you and your family may have many questions following a serious gas explosion accident. We are here to help. Our personal injury attorneys have handled several burn injury, explosion, and workers’ compensation cases, lending us the experience and resources to help you obtain the compensation you deserve from negligent parties. Call 888-684-7192 for a free consultation and to learn more about your legal rights.
