BP America blamed for gas pipeline explosion

A ditch operator is suing after, he says, he was seriously burned in an explosion because BP America failed to mark one of its natural gas pipelines.

Chris Ray Starnes and Tari Starnes filed a lawsuit Aug. 24 in the Harris County District Court against BP America, with an office in Memorial, citing negligence and gross negligence.

The plaintiffs say on Aug. 25, 2010, Chris Starnes suffered serious burns, necessitating emergency evacuation to the University Medical Center burn unit, when a BP America natural gas pipeline exploded.

The explosion occurred when Starnes hit the unmarked pipeline while operating a ditcher for the company Treco, according to the brief. BP America failed to properly mark and monitor the pipeline, the suit alleges.

The plaintiffs are seeking damages and court costs. They are being represented in the case by Amarillo attorney Tim Newsom.

Harris County District Court Case No. 2012-48976. This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Harris County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.