A natural gas pipeline running next to Highland Park High School in University, Texas, a Dallas suburb, exploded Saturday morning. The blast sent two people to people to the hospital. The pair injured in the explosion are reported to be in stable condition.
Crews from the University Park Fire Department were called to the scene of the gas pipeline explosion at about 9:30 Saturday morning, November 7, 2020. The exact location of the blazing eruption was the 6600 block Westchester.
Immediately prior to the explosion, workers from Atmos Energy were nearby. The Atmos crew were reportedly “repairing a gas main” at the time of the blast. In fact, the two injured individuals were employees of Atmos. As of this time, no other injuries were reported as a result of the University Park gas pipeline explosion.
Firefighters spent a couple of hours getting the fire under control. Gas service to the immediate area was shut down to protect against any additional explosions or a spreading of the associated fire.
Investigators have begun their work to identify the underlying cause of the University Park gas pipeline explosion. As of Monday morning following the incident, little information has been made available by investigators regarding the cause of the blast. No timeframe has been announced by authorities regarding when more news might be available regarding the cause of the gas pipeline explosion.
What has been reported since the initial explosion is proving to be a bit confusing. As noted previously, a crew from Atmos Energy was reported to be making repairs on a gas main at the time of the explosion. Headquartered in Dallas, Atmos is one of the largest natural gas distribution companies in the United States.
Preliminary initial reports indicate that a yet to be identified construction company was working nearby immediately prior to the incident as well. These is some preliminary indication that the construction crew “fractured a high-pressure pipeline” while digging with heavy equipment.
As facts continue to come together, the chain of events may have been a construction company damaged a natural gas pipeline, an Atmos crew was dispatched to repair the damage, and the explosion occurred that injured two of the energy company’s employees. With that said, it is also possible that the manner in which the University Park gas pipeline explosion occurred is more complicated than this linear explanation.
In the past 20 years in the United States, 280 people have been killed in natural gas pipeline explosions similar to the one that occurred in the Dallas suburbs over the weekend, according to the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. 1,183 people were injured in these blasts, many of them seriously so. These deaths and injuries occurred in 731 individual natural gas pipeline explosions across the country.
More than 10 percent of these types of blasts occurred in the state of Texas during the past 20 years. These Texas natural gas pipeline explosions have resulted in 30 deaths and 129 injuries during that time period. Bear in mind that these deaths and injuries are associated with gas pipeline explosions of the kind that occurred in University Park and not other types of catastrophic blasts.
If you or a loved one have been injured in an incident like the University Park gas pipeline explosion, you need to be certain that you understand and protect your vital legal rights. An explosion accident lawyer from The Doan Law Firm at (800) 349-0000 stands ready to discuss your legal rights any time that is convenient for you. A nationwide law firm, you can schedule an appointment with an explosion accident lawyer using our hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year, including all major holidays.
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