A former worker of the corporate that supplied gas for the propane tank blamed for a deadly Virginia home explosion is standing trial on an involuntary manslaughter cost.
A leak from the 500-gallon underground propane tank triggered the explosion that destroyed the home on Silver Ridge Drive Feb. 16, 2024, and killed 45-year-old volunteer firefighter Trevor Brown, the Loudoun County Mixed Hearth and Rescue System stated. Eleven first responders have been harm.
The day of the explosion, Southern States pumped about 130 gallons of propane into the tank to check it, prosecutors stated, and based mostly on testimony Tuesday, it was clear there was a leak. The service tech might scent it, the home-owner might scent it, and neighbors might scent it, attorneys stated.
In accordance with testimony, the tech known as colleague Roger Bentley out to have a look. Home-owner Kelly Woods testified Bentley downplayed the chance and continued to downplay the chance even after a neighbor had known as the fireplace division.
Throughout opening statements Tuesday, the prosecution stated Bentley instructed firefighters over the telephone it was not an emergency. Inside 25 minutes of that assertion, the home exploded, immediately killing Brown, who was standing within the entrance yard.
The protection argued that it was a tragedy, not against the law, and that it is not sensible that Bentley would stroll away from an lively fuel leak.
Protection attorneys argued Woods knew the propane tank below her house had been leaking for years and by no means instructed any of the individuals she known as out to service it.
The trial is predicted to final three weeks.
