https://journal.classiccars.com/2019/04/10/porsche-collection-damaged-durham/ A Board member here works very close to where this happened.
Hagerty Insurance (or a similar carrier) has a multi- million dollar claim. Now, they are sad too. A fiber optic cable company, or its sub, was boring and went through a two inch gas main line. About 1/2 hour passed while they were trying to get the gas shut off. Unfortunately, it blew and killed the local coffee shop owner while he was putting a closed notice on his door. Many others were injured. I think maybe 5 buildings are condemned. Bricks and glass were turned into long range missiles.
There have been other incidents where gas mains were drilled through recently. Doesn't anyone get the blueprints or anything about the area where they are digging? We have Miss Dig around here. They come out and flag where any utility lines run.
They complied with the locator process and had the permits. We do not know the cause. This was the site of an old Studebaker dealership built in 1920.
1st, God Bless the family of gentleman that was killed. But man...what a waste. Porsches are by far my favorite cars.
Such a shame. Many times Miss Utility or etc...will miss utility lines or mis-mark them. Blueprints are fine in the architect's office but often the As-Built turns out much different or even slightly different because of conditions. Add to that the age of the building and all of the different layers of construction over the last 99 years. Praying for Comfort and Healing, Strength and Peace for all who are involved.
I ws just thinking the EXACT same thing. These are the types of claims insurance companies dread. I guess my Hagerty premium is going up next year!
The explosion blew the gas company man away while he was still trying to shut off the main line valve. He was lucky that Duke Medical Center was very close. He coded but the Duke Trauma Center brought him back to life. The guys real last is “Rambo”. Truth is stranger than fiction.
More film footage at the time of the blast from a shuttle bus: https://www.wral.com/video-from-inside-shuttle-bus-shows-moment-of-durham-blast/18376782/ Sadly, the gas worker on the scene finally passed from his injuries.
