Family Hurt In Texas Pipeline Explosion Files Suit

BETSY BLANEY

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — A family whose members suffered burns when a natural gas pipeline exploded last week in the Texas Panhandle filed a negligence lawsuit Thursday against the companies that own and operate it.

The Torres family filed the suit in Potter County against the pipeline's owner, El Paso Natural Gas Co.; its parent company, Houston-based El Paso Corp.; and the pipeline operator, Atmos Energy Corp.

Company spokesman declined to comment.

Kevin Glasheen, the Lubbock attorney representing the family, said the suit was filed so soon after the explosion to ensure that evidence at the blast site is preserved.

"There are issues there with maintenance and pipelines don't blow up if they're maintained," he said.

The 24-inch pipeline exploded near Bushland, 15 miles west of Amarillo, about 1 a.m. on Nov. 5. The blast shook homes, melted window blinds and shot flames hundreds of feet into the air that were seen 20 miles away. The blast left a hole about 30 yards by 20 yards and close to 15 feet deep.