Updated June 3, 2024. A massive natural gas explosion rocked downtown Youngstown, Ohio, on Tuesday, killing one person and injuring at least seven others. The deadly blast occurred around 3 p.m. at the Realty Building on 47 East Federal Street, destroying the Chase Bank branch on the first floor.
Downtown Youngstown Gas Explosion Takes Tragic Toll
Among the victims was 27-year-old Chase employee Akil Drake, who was found in the rubble around 1 a.m. Wednesday. Drake was at work and observed in the building before the explosion. An autopsy will be conducted by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the official cause of death.
In the immediate aftermath of the gas explosion, another person was unaccounted for. The Youngstown Fire Chief later confirmed the missing woman had made it to the emergency room at a Boardman hospital under a different name. As of Wednesday morning, that woman remains in critical condition on a ventilator undergoing intensive care treatment.
Six other survivors were transported to Mercy Health following the gas explosion. Three of those victims were listed in stable condition as of Wednesday, while the other three have already been treated and released from the hospital.
Matt Cower told WKYC 3News that his girlfriend, 28-year-old Caroline Pizarro, was critically injured in the blast while working at Chase Bank. Cower set up a GoFundMe page to help support his girlfriend, who moved to Youngstown from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.
Explosion Investigation Focuses on Severed Gas Line
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) cited a severed natural gas line in the basement of the Realty Tower building as the central focus of their investigation into the deadly Youngstown explosion.
Officials report that Enbridge Gas Ohio, the natural gas provider for the area, and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) discovered a cut to a pressurized but inactive below-ground service line in the basement after the blast.
In a news conference, a spokesperson for the NTSB said, “A possible third-party cut to the pressurized service line is a central focus of our investigation to determine the cause of the gas release and subsequent explosion.”
A preliminary explosion investigation found that the gas line was cut six minutes before the explosion. Investigators say the workers were removing old piping and utility infrastructure from the basement as part of a city project to fill the vault area and replace the sidewalks above. The workers were reportedly unaware that one of the pipes was still pressurized. The NTSB’s investigation will determine why the abandoned service line was still pressurized, and whether the proper procedures were followed.
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Gas Explosion Lawsuit Information
When a gas explosion causes a burn injury or death, the impact is emotionally, financially, and physically devastating. While no amount of money could ever make up for your family’s loss, holding the responsible party accountable can provide a sense of justice and help alleviate your financial stress as you move forward. Filing an explosion lawsuit against the wrongdoers who caused the explosion will help you and your family get the compensation and justice you deserve for damages including the following:
- Wrongful death
- Funeral expenses
- Medical bills
- Cost of future medical care
- Lost wages
- Future earning capacity
- Physical pain
- Disfigurement
- Permanent disability
- Emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
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About the Pritzker Hageman Explosion Legal Team
Pritzker Hageman is one of the few law firms in the nation with extensive experience representing families in complex explosion and wrongful death lawsuits. Our explosion attorneys have a proven track record of taking on huge energy companies like Enbridge to secure substantial settlements and recoveries for our clients, including some of the largest recoveries in American history. Attorney Eric Hageman, who leads Pritzker Hageman’s explosion legal team, has appeared on CBS News to discuss the ongoing problem of gas leaks and explosions.
Pritzker Hageman supports the burn survivor community by partnering with the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors and our attorneys have been active members of the American Burn Association.
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Legal Action after a Burn Injury
The Pritzker Hageman burn injury legal team, in partnership with the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, has put together a handbook covering important topics related to legal action after a burn injury.
