Lawsuit Filed in Fatal Pennsylvania Gas Explosion

A man who lost three relatives in an explosion that killed five people in Allentown, Pa., last year has sued a utility company.

The Morning Call reports Manuel Cruz filed the suit against UGI Utilities in Northampton County Court this week. The suit alleges UGI failed to detect heavy corrosion to the pipe. The newspaper reports a UGI official declined comment.

Cruz’s mother, daughter and 4-month old grandson were among those killed in the blast, which flattened a pair of row houses and set fire to a block of homes. The baby’s father is also a plaintiff in the case.

Investigators say the cause was traced to a cracked 12-inch diameter section of pipe, which is still being analyzed by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.