Possible gas explosion leaves six injured

Initial report by David Sentendrey and FOX 4 News staff

Plano, Texas — At least six people were hospitalized after a reported explosion at a Plano home on Monday afternoon. It's still unclear what caused the explosion and Atmos and Plano Fire investigators were at the scene into Monday night. The incident happened just after 4:30 p.m. in the 4400 block of Cleveland Drive, located off Park Boulevard in between Ohio Drive and Coit Road. Plano Fire officials said three adults and three children had to be transported from the scene. Their conditions were not known. One person was inside the home. The other five were in a home next door.

The force of the explosion essentially flattened the home and caused significant damage to nearby homes. Neighbors say it happened during a storm. They saw a flash and heard a loud-shaking boom. The impact of the explosion felt by people living a mile away. Many walking to the scene were in disbelief. It’s unclear what caused the explosion. It happened as a thunderstorm moved through the neighborhood.

"I just happened to be looking out my window right as it happened and it was a big flash of bright light," said Taylor Reddick, who lives nearby. "It had been lightning a lot already, and I just saw a huge black smoke go up and debris go flying in the air. It all happened very fast."

Plano Fire says only one person was inside the home when it exploded. Most of the injured lived nearby.

Tony Clark says he saw children leaving the neighboring home to get into an ambulance on their own. "Yeah, I didn’t see any wounds or anything on them. They walked just fine," he said. Investigators from the Plano Fire Department, Atmos, Oncor, and the Plano Police Bomb Squad all came out to the scene. Power and gas were cut off to the block. The Plano Fire Department says it’s standard protocol. Neighbors, however, can only imagine what it was like for the one person inside the home at the center of the explosion.

Miller Weisbrod's Gas Explosion Attorneys have successfully prosecuted multiple cases against Atmos arising from explosions due to aging pipes, broken pipes and inadequate policies relating to replacement of natural gas pipe components, and failing to warn and evacuate nearby residents. Attorney, Clay Miller obtained a $12,500,000 settlement in a gas explosion resulting in serious burn injuries to our client. Lewisville gas explosion compared to 2008 fatal blast from Miller Weisbrod.

If you have suffered an injury in a natural gas explosion accident, please contact us at 214.987.0005 or toll free at 888.987.0005 for a free consultation.