Austin Natural Gas House Explosion Killed One, Injured Another

An Austin natural gas house explosion killed one and injured another on October 27, 2018. Both people were badly injured and taken to a local hospital. One of them, Nicole Burton, 44, was transferred to San Antonio Brooke Army Medical Center burn unit. Tragically, she died four days later. A Gofundme page has been set up to help with her funeral expenses.

The other person, who has not been identified, was taken to the hospital in serious condition. The house itself was demolished. 

The explosion occurred at 2301 Bendridge Trail in South Austin. A team from Texas Gas, working with an independent expert, are investigating the incident. Of particular interest are “failures” at a service line connection from another property. 

In a statement, Texas Gas announced, “The failures appear to be caused by third-party damage to the service line. The cause of the damage to the service line is still under investigation.” 

At least five other houses and several cars were damaged, the Austin Fire Department reported. Their initial estimate is that the cost of the damage may be $750,000. 

Austin Natural Gas House Explosion Raises Safety Concerns

While natural gas is a safe and commonly used fuel for homes, it can be deadly if proper safety procedures are not followed. If someone is killed because someone else did not follow proper safety procedures, it could be the basis of a lawsuit for wrongful death. 

Pritzker Hageman is a national law firm that specializes in protecting the legal rights of people who have been injured in fire or explosions, and in protecting the legal rights of families who have lost a loved one in a fire or explosion. They work tirelessly to support victims and their families, making sure that they get the best possible medical care, and don’t have to worry about their financial future. They have won multi-million dollar awards to help people begin to put their lives back together. 

If you have been injured in a fire or explosion, or have lost a family member, call the friendly and experienced attorneys of Pritzker Hageman at 1-888-377-8900, or send in the online contact form. The consultation is free, and does not have any obligation.

Sources

Winkle, Kate. “Woman dies 4 days after gas explosion at southeast Austin home.” KXAN, November 1, 2018. 

Moreno, Chelsea, Will DuPree. “AFD: South Austin house explosion caused by natural gas build-up.” KXAN, October 27, 2018. 

“Austin Residents Grieve and Worry After Fatal House Explosion.” Pritzker Hageman, P.A., November 7, 2018.