Jeffersonville House Explosion Kills 1, Injures 2 in Indiana

One person is dead and two others injured after a massive house explosion in the 900 block of Assembly Road, in Jeffersonville, IN on May 19. William Phillips, 50, was killed in the blast. His wife, Janet Phillips, 45,  remains hospitalized.  Two other people in neighboring homes were treated and released from the hospital.

Up to 20 other houses in the Capitol Hills neighborhood were also damaged by the blast. Their windows blown out from the pressure, their rooves and exteriors showered with fiery debris.

Firefighters were called to the scene just before 5 a.m. They arrived within minutes to find the house completely destroyed. The two injured people were transported to the University of Louisville Hospital and the neighborhood was quickly evacuated.

Gas service to 14 homes was cut off, according to the Courier-Journal.  William Short, who lives across the street from the house, told the paper that when a loud boom woke him his first thought was that a tornado had struck. He looked out the window and saw what he described as fireworks shooting out of the home and then a second blast occurred, the force of which blew out his windows.

Officials say natural gas was the source of the explosion but they have not yet determined its cause.  The state’s pipeline safety director told WAVE 3 News that is focussing on piping inside the home.

The explosion lawyers at Pritzker Hageman represent people nationwide who have been injured in explosions and families who have suffered the wrongful death of a loved one. They offer free consultations.  To request one, call 1 (888) 377-8900. Or, send a text to 612-261-0856. You can also use the contact form below.

UPDATE: This post was updated May 22, 2019.