One person was killed and another person was injured after a trailer carrying hydrogen cylinders exploded in Colton Tuesday evening. Officials with the Colton Fire Department responded to a report of a truck trailer on fire at approximately 10:46pm at 2170 Miguel Bustamante Parkway.
While on the way to the scene, they received additional explosion reports.
When officials arrived on the scene, fire crews found compressed hydrogen cylinders inside a trailer on fire. Adjacent buildings were threatened.
Hazmat units were dispatched to the scene, and the fire was extinguished.
At the scene, two patients were found, although it is unclear whether they were inside the truck. One of the victims was found dead, and the other victim suffered injuries and transported to a nearby hospital; their condition is currently unknown.
No additional information about the victims has been released at this time. It is still unclear whether they were employed by the truck company or of the site property. Reportedly, they were both working on the tanks when the explosion occurred.
The cause of the explosion and fire remains under investigation.
A spokesperson for the Pilot Company, the owner of the trailer involved, released the following statement:
“It is with heavy hearts that Pilot can confirm one fatality and an injury occurred last night during a compressed hydrogen gas trailer incident in Colton, CA. Our thoughts and prayers are with these individuals and their loved ones. The safety and wellbeing of our team members, and the communities we serve, are our utmost concern. We are grateful for the swift response of local authorities who quickly contained the fire. We have temporarily suspended compressed hydrogen gas operations and will continue to work closely with authorities as they conduct a thorough investigation. Please direct any additional questions to the proper authorities.”
If you were injured or a member of your family was killed in the incident mentioned above, it is important that you seek legal help as soon as possible. You could have the right to file a claim.
For more information about the legal options available to you, please do not hesitate to reach out to the team here at the Normandie Law Firm as soon as possible. Our team has decades of experience and is more than ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to fight for your rights and obtain the recovery that you are owed. Contact our team today to learn more about how we can help you.
Who Is Liable for the Incident?
Since the incident remains under investigation, the cause of the incident is still unclear, and liability is not yet established. However, based on the details surrounding the incident, different parties/entities could be liable or responsible for the incident. These could include the following:
- The company that owns the truck (Pilot Company)
- The company that was receiving the shipment
- Third-party repair companies or maintenance companies
In general, liability is based on the concept of negligence. If a party/entity breaches their duty of care and an incident occurs, then they can be sued. Victims and their families could have the right to file injury claims or wrongful death claims. Injured employees may have the right to file workers compensation claims.
To ensure that you have a thorough understanding of the legal options available to you, contact our team as soon as possible.
Can I Recover Compensation?
Yes, victims and their families could be entitled to receive compensation. Although every claim is different, some of the categories of compensation that could be eligible to receive could include the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death benefits
- Punitive damages
- Loss of consortium
- Legal expenses
- And more
Here at our law firm, we are committed to helping victims and their families recover the maximum payout available for their claims. Whether our team has to negotiate a settlement or take your claim to trial to reach a fair verdict, you can trust that our lawyers will always do everything possible to secure the maximum recovery available for your claim.
How much can I recover? How much compensation can I receive? Based on the details surrounding your claim, you could recover anywhere from $25,000 to $500,000 or even more. In general, the more severe the harm suffered, the higher the case value.
For more information about the possible value of your hydrogen truck explosion case, contact us today.
Normandie Law Firm Can Help You
The recent incident in Colton, California shook the entire community. If you or a member of your family were harmed, it is important that understand that you could have the right to file a lawsuit. Here at the Normandie Law Firm, we have decades of experience and are fully committed to providing victims and their families with the guidance that they need to fight for their rights. Whether you are pursuing an injury claim, wrongful death lawsuit, or even a workers compensation claim, we can help you.
Our firm is proud to be able to offer free case reviews, which include free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our team will be available to answer all your questions, address all your concerns, and provide you with all the information necessary to fight for your right to get justice. To schedule your free case review, contact our team today.
Zero-Fee Guarantee: you will never pay any upfront legal costs for any of our legal services. That is, you will not have to worry about paying legal fees to speak with our lawyers. In addition, we work on a contingency basis, meaning that you will not be required to pay anything at all if your lawsuit is not successful.
Contact the Normandie Law Firm today for more information about your right to sue.
