Los Angeles, CA—A violent explosion not only catapulted debris and a worker into the street, it killed one person as well. The massive blast occurred on Friday, July 30, 2010, at an industrial building located at 911 E. 59th St., around 6:45 a.m., as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle and the Los Angeles Times.
Officials believe a botched attempt to adjust a rerouted gas meter ignited the natural gas explosion that rocked a South Los Angeles street.
Southern California Gas Co. spokesman Dennis Lord said, on Thursday the gas service was cut off to the building, which houses JL Spray, after the company failed to pay its monthly bill. Apparently, the meter outside the building was manipulated so that the “gas bypassed the regulator and flowed into the building at a powerful rate.” The meter was likely tampered with to keep the business operational.
Investigators believe the building exploded when workers turned on their machinery
The blast shot fragments of melting asphalt rooftop into the street and tossed smashed floor tiles at least 50 feet from the business. One man was even was thrown across the street, sustaining severe burns in the process. Responding emergency medical services initially found no heartbeat, believing the man had been killed, but he was later revived at the hospital.
Another man wasn’t so lucky. He was killed as he tried to move his stake-bed truck away from the building and was electrocuted with a 34,500-volt power line, which had fallen onto the truck.
Officials are withholding the names of the victims.
A full investigation is underway.
Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley-Legal news for California workplace accident attorneys.
You Tube video provided by the Associated Press.
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