Lexington, Mo. — Communication lapses among city leadership may have contributed to a tragic gas explosion that resulted in the death of a five-year-old boy and severe injuries to his father and sister on April 9. City Manager Angela Funderburk reached out to several city officials, urging them to inform residents about a gas leak prior to the explosion. However, only the police chief responded, issuing a late notification on social media that lacked crucial details about evacuation measures.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are currently examining the events leading up to the blast, which obliterated a home around 7:42 p.m. The explosion triggered additional damage to nearby residences and businesses, prompting ongoing inquiries into the responses of local authorities and utility companies.
Early reports indicate that a contractor struck an unmarked gas line shortly after 4 p.m., resulting in a significant gas leak. While first responders from the Lexington Fire Department arrived within minutes, city communication records reveal little about the dissemination of safety information to the public. A business located just 15 feet from the leak was evacuated, but homes situated between 80 to 160 feet away were not, according to the NTSB’s preliminary findings.
Funderburk’s text messages, acquired through an open records request, show her urgency in addressing the gas leak situation. In the 5:51 p.m. message to the city’s economic development director, she expressed concern for residents’ safety given the strong smell of gas reported by a city supervisor. The director failed to reply until 7:54 p.m., a mere 12 minutes after the explosion had taken place.
In another text exchange at 6:33 p.m., Funderburk contacted Police Chief Josh Coen, who was attending a school event at the time. Although he posted a brief notification on his department’s Facebook page minutes later, it notably lacked any mention of evacuations or precautions, raising questions about the adequacy of the communication effort.
Around the same time, Funderburk reached out to Lexington Fire Chief Jim Martin, who was already at the gas leak site. Martin shared a photo with Funderburk at 6:22 p.m. but did not provide updates via the fire department’s social media platform, leaving the posts to the police chief alone.
The incident report compiled by Martin indicated that the fire department initially left the scene after being cleared to return to service by a Liberty Gas technician. However, as gas readings heightened later on, they were called back to the site. The explosion occurred just as the fire chief was donning protective gear, underscoring the hazardous conditions first responders faced.
Jacob Cunningham, the injured father and grieving parent, has initiated a personal injury lawsuit in Lafayette County, seeking compensation for the loss of his son and the injuries sustained by his family. As investigations unfold, questions remain about the city’s emergency protocols and communication strategies in crisis situations.
Officials from Liberty Utilities have not yet commented on the sequence of events, and the NTSB’s inquiry continues to gather information regarding the notification processes surrounding the explosion. The tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical need for precise communication and quick action during emergencies to safeguard the community.