Residents of a South Austin neighborhood are mourning the loss of Nicole Burton, 44, who died from injuries she sustained in a house explosion on October 27, 2018. A buildup of gas caused by damage to a gas line at a neighboring property triggered the blast which leveled the home and severely injured Burton and a man whose name has not been released. Both of them were taken to a nearby hospital. Burton was then transferred to San Antonio Brooke Army Medical Center burn unit where she later died from complications of her burn injuries.
First responders arrived at the scene in the 2300 block of Bendridge Trail to find the remains of the house on fire and debris scattered for 200 feet in every direction. The two badly burned victims had made it out of the house before firefighters arrived.
As neighbors grieve, they also worry about their safety. Texas Gas Services said in a statement that said the explosion appears to be an isolated incident caused by the buildup of gas due to damage to a gas line at a neighboring property by a third party. The company said it is working with authorities on the investigation of the deadly blast. After another deadly blast in 2012, Teas Gas Services replaces the aging cast iron pipes in that neighborhood with polyethylene.
“This is a horrible tragedy,” said Fred Pritzker, an explosion attorney with the national law firm Pritzker Hageman. He and Eric Hageman represent clients who have been injured in explosions and families who have suffered the wrongful death of a loved one. Recently, they obtained a $40 million settlement for a client who was severely burned in a gas explosion. To contact them for a free consultation about an explosion lawsuit, call toll-free at 1 (888) 377-8900 or use this online contact form.