West Virginia Mom’s Suit Over Son’s Death Blames Bayer

The mother of a West Virginia State University student is suing Bayer CropScience and the school over her son’s death in 2008.

Portia Gray’s lawsuit claims her 19-year-old son, Ra’Sean Gray, died as a result of exposure to substances released during an explosion at Bayer’s Institute plant.

The Charleston Daily Mail reported that the lawsuit was filed in Kanawha County Circuit Court last month.

Ra’Sean Gray died on Sept. 18, 2008, less than three weeks after the explosion. An autopsy determined the cause of death was a blood clot in the main artery of the lungs.

An attorney for West Virginia State declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Bayer spokesman Tom Dover declined to comment on the case’s specifics. He said the company believes there was no health risk to the general public.