- The parents of Logan Hansen, who died in a South Jordan house explosion, are suing Enbridge Gas, alleging negligence and emotional distress.
- The lawsuit claims Enbridge failed to maintain the gas line, leading to the explosion caused by a leak from a 1976 pipeline.
- The family seeks over $300,000 in damages, citing financial losses and emotional trauma.
SOUTH JORDAN — The parents of a teenager who was killed in a house explosion last fall filed a lawsuit against Enbridge Gas on Wednesday, claiming the company could have prevented the death of their son.
Josh and Branda Hansen say their 15-year-old son, Logan Hansen, "experienced severe pain and suffering" and ultimately died due to the residential natural gas explosion on Nov. 6, 2024. Their lawsuit seeks financial compensation in an amount over $300,000 based on damages proven at trial.
In the lawsuit, the family claimed Enbridge was negligent in not maintaining the gas line and preventing leaks and intentionally inflicted emotional distress on their family.
Shortly after 3 p.m. on Nov. 6, the lawsuit says Logan Hansen was home alone when "suddenly and without warning" the house was engulfed in a violent explosion. The document says the parents have continued to suffer from Logan's death and have had financial losses due to medical care, a funeral and burial, and the loss of their home and property.
The lawsuit also notes that the Hansens received an invoice from Enbridge for use of natural gas on the day of and the day after the explosion, which included the word "KILL" in their address — "10593 S 3210 W KILL, South Jordan, UT." The parents say this was an "explicit reminder" that their son had been killed by the gas they were being charged for, an action the lawsuit calls "outrageous and intolerable."
The parents said they again "experienced severe emotional distress" and other grief symptoms after receiving the bill, saying Enbridge's action was "senseless, callous, careless and wrongful."
An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board determined the South Jordan explosion was caused by a natural gas leak on the main gas pipeline, 150 feet northeast of the Hansens' home. It determined the leak allowed for the spread of natural gas under the yards of neighboring homes within 250 feet, and eventually seeped into the Hansens' home.
According to the lawsuit, the gas had been leaking for at least two days before causing the explosion, and Enbridge had not notified those nearby about the leak.
The lawsuit cited the investigation's finding that the 4-inch leaking pipe was installed in 1976 and was composed of Aldyl A, a pipe that is more susceptible to leaks than metal or polymer pipes. It also cited a 2023 Pennsylvania chocolate factory explosion caused by the failure of the same type of pipe.
Following that explosion, the pipe was identified as posing "acute threats to pipeline integrity," and the lawsuit argued Enbridge should have maintained the pipe in the South Jordan neighborhood better because of this determination.
Enbridge said in a statement to KSL.com that "our thoughts remain with the family impacted by this event."
Outside of that, the company said it is unable to comment on ongoing litigation and also cannot comment due to federal regulations associated with the National Transportation Safety Board's ongoing investigation, which it is "committed to contributing to."
