• 29
  • January
    2011

In our previous post, we looked at the deadly gas pipe explosion in San Bruno, California, that killed eight people. Investigators believe that the explosion was likely caused by faulty welding in pipes underground. The explosion occurred in September of last year.

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. is the company that constructed and installed the pipeline. PG&E has been accused of knowing that the pipes were poorly constructed. While the exact cause of the fatal accident is still uncertain, one question arises: what about the victims of the explosion?

The family of a woman who was killed in the explosion has brought a wrongful death lawsuit against PG&E. This type of legal claim can compensate a family for the loss of a loved one, if the loss was caused by the negligence of someone else. Here the family alleges that PG&E knew about the pipes' poor construction yet did not take any steps to maintain the pipeline.

The woman who was killed was only 20 years old. She had been watching a football game at her boyfriend's house the night of the explosion. The house caught on fire; she tried to get away from the flames but couldn't. Her parents found her body the next morning.

The woman's family claims that PG&E were negligent because they knew about the pipe and did not fix it. They also allege that there had been a lot of previous incidents in the past that also indicated a disregard for public safety. PG&E has yet to comment on the allegations; a spokesperson has stated that the company will work to address public concerns.

The girl's family has filed one of many lawsuits against PG&E. Families whose loved ones were injured and families who lost their homes in the blast are also suing the utility company.

Source: The San Francisco Examiner online, "Wrongful-death lawsuit filed against PG&E for San Bruno blast," Shaun Bishop, 26 January 2011