Four people injured in a January gas explosion have sued gas utility Spire, blaming it and two other companies for a series of missteps leading to the blast that destroyed their Glendale home.
, filed Thursday in St. Louis County court, says “negligence and carelessness†from Spire, USIC Locating Services and local plumbing company Danico Inc., led to the Jan. 3 explosion at the home on Glen Elm Drive, near Kirkwood.
The suit alleges USIC “improperly marked the utility locations†at the property, and that Danico, while performing plumbing work at the residence, “ruptured an unmarked natural gas line.†Danico then opened a window to the home, “thereby letting natural gas into the residence,†the lawsuit says.
The suit says Spire was called to the residence, but did not order an evacuation. The explosion occurred before the utility shut off the gas line, destroying the home and injuring the four plaintiffs — Dianna Walker, Margaret Gaffner, Matthew Gaffner, and an unnamed minor — the suit says.
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The explosion and ensuing fire caused heavy damage to the home and the partial collapse of its walls. A Post-Dispatch story at the time said a woman and three teenagers escaped from inside the home with minor injuries, according to the local fire chief.
The lawsuit says that plaintiffs “sustained severe injuries.â€
Spire said it is unable to comment on the pending legal matter, in an email from spokesman Jason Merrill.
Indianapolis-based USIC, which describes itself as “the leading provider of underground public utility locating services,†did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A man who answered the telephone for Danico Friday said he was aware of the lawsuit, but declined comment.
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