PLUM, PENNSYLVANIA: A tragic house explosion that claimed the life of a grandfather and left a family devastated has raised concerns about the negligence of a gas company and a history of similar incidents in the area.
The incident, which occurred in 2008, took the life of Richard Leith, 64, while he was babysitting his granddaughter at their home on Mardi Gras Drive. The explosion happened just four miles away from another blast that resulted in five fatalities over the weekend.
Leith's family has voiced strong concerns about Peoples Natural Gas's maintenance practices and the overall safety of the area. According to Leith's siblings, the gas company responsible for maintenance in the region has been "negligent," and they believe that the entire area is "riddled with issues."
The grief-stricken family's concerns have been fueled by a history of similar incidents. In the tragic event that occurred on Saturday, August 12, five people lost their lives, including a 12-year-old boy, and two neighboring properties were destroyed.
What caused the house explosion in Plum?
While the cause of this latest explosion is currently under investigation, the Allegheny County Fire Marshal's Office revealed that the house located at 141 Rustic Ridge Dr. was experiencing issues with its hot water tank, which was situated in the basement.
While it's crucial to note that the fire marshal has not conclusively determined whether the hot water tank issues were the cause of the explosion, it is being examined as part of the ongoing investigation. The office stated they plan to explore the role of the hot water tank issues "along with any and all other possibilities during their processes that may explain what occurred."
How many house explosions have there been in Plum?
According to Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Chief James Sims, there have been a total of six house explosions in Plum during his 48-year tenure. Chief Sims described the most recent explosion as "the worst one." The recurring incidents have left the community shaken and seeking answers.
Janet Berneburg, Richard Leith's sister, spoke out about the unsettling pattern of explosions. "There have been six explosions now, including my brother," she told the Daily Mail. "This latest one wasn't far from where my niece's place blew up. It's so questionable. It's unbelievable that it has happened over and over again. He was babysitting and ended up getting killed. It's all I can think of after hearing about the latest explosion."
She added, "Innocent lives are being taken that never should have happened. If it is something that anyone had control over then they should be held to account. The whole area is riddled with issues. When I heard about these adults and the child losing their lives, I got goosebumps. I just don't understand why this keeps happening."
Legal actions and compensation
In the aftermath of the 2008 explosion that claimed Richard Leith's life, his family pursued legal action. They were awarded a substantial $2.9 million payout through a lawsuit settlement involving multiple parties.
The settlement was reached with Peoples Gas Co Inc, Dominion Resources Inc., Kevin Higgins of Higgins Plumbing, and W Scott Lea III of WS Lea General Contracting.
Leith's widow, Mary Pat, received $1.69 million after attorneys' fees and expenses. Their granddaughter, Gianna, who suffered a broken leg during the explosion, was given $250,000 placed in a trust. Additionally, their daughter Tina received $154,000.
The gas company, Peoples Natural Gas, responded to the concerns raised by Leith's family and the community. "We have no indication at this time that the previous incidents and this weekend are related," a spokesperson for the company told the Daily Mail.
"Our crews continue to work and cooperate with the Allegheny County Fire Marshal and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, who are leading the investigation. We are bringing all of our resources to bear to help the Fire Marshal and the PUC in this investigation, including performing additional tests of our system.
"The safety of our customers, our employees, and the communities that we serve continues to be our highest priority."
2008 NTSB report
The National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) conducted an investigation into the 2008 explosion that claimed Richard Leith's life. The NTSB report determined that the probable cause of the explosion and fire was excavation damage by a third party to Peoples' two-inch distribution line.
The excavator, Winfield Scott Lea, was found to have likely bumped the gas line with his backhoe while excavating on the property.
The damage inflicted on the gas line stripped its protective coating, making the pipe vulnerable to corrosion and failure. The NTSB concluded that Peoples was not at fault for the incident. It's important to note that Dominions, a company involved in the incident, sold Peoples in 2010.
Despite the NTSB's findings, Leith's brother, Bob, remains skeptical about the gas company's role in these recurring explosions. "To me, it seems that the gas company is negligent at either maintaining the lines or repairing them," he told the Daily Mail.
"Something is not right. It is too coincidental that this many would be happening in that same area. I just hope that someone gets to the bottom of it. No one has really investigated what is causing all of these explosions," Bob added.
