NJ explosion 12/13/05

[digger242j]

This incident was on the news.


One of the stories found online says in part, "Law enforcement and utility company officials said preliminary investigations showed that a pit dug by construction workers who were trying to remove an underground oil tank collapsed and pinched a gas line just before 9 a.m. Utility crews were sent to the scene after residents nearby reported the odor of gas; 30 minutes later, the explosion shook the area."

Anybody know any more details? I'm always skeptical about the media's ability to get the details straight.

What do they mean by "pinched" a gas line?

[BRL]

My guess to pinched line means it was "crushed" but not actually cut or broken in 2. Couldn't find much in the online news but it sure looked bad. 3 people died & some others were unaccounted for as of the writings.

http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051213/NEWS/51213001&SearchID=73229456298393

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/dailyphotos/gallery.ssf?cgi-bin/view_gallery.cgi/njo/view_gallery.ata?g_id=5724

http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1134538972136100.xml?starledger?ntop&coll=1

[BRL]

Some updates:

http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1134713945120340.xml?starledger?nnj&coll=1

I found it interesting to read that the NTSB does the investigation, I guess they have a broader responsibility than just transportation accidents. I hadn't known that.

I also read in another paper that the woman who landed in the apartment a floor below her's is suing. She received 80 stitches & was in the hospital for 2 days. She is suing the contractor for negligence and is suing the Utility for not properly marking out the lines. I can't find that story on line to link to unfortunately.

[digger242j]

I found it interesting to read that the NTSB does the investigation, I guess they have a broader responsibility than just transportation accidents. I hadn't known that.

I don't have time to check right now, but my impression is that the pipe might be considered a form of "transportation", which would put it under their jurisdiction. I could be mistaken...