Dacono, Colorado – A former oil and gas worker, Steve Straughen, has been awarded a $30 million judgment after suffering life-altering injuries in a frac tank explosion. The explosion occurred in December 2019 at a site near the intersection of County Roads 90 and 35 in Weld County. The federal jury found DHI Energy Service, the company Straughen was working for, partially responsible for the explosion due to alleged negligence in maintaining the tank.
Straughen, a former nuclear weapons technician in the Air Force, expressed his passion for working in the oil and gas industry. However, the explosion has ended his ability to work in the industry permanently. He recalled the moment of the explosion, vividly remembering how he prevented an even more catastrophic event by asking the operator to shut the valve to the oil tank.
As a result of the explosion, Straughen suffered critical injuries, including broken bones and the eventual amputation of his lower leg. His attorney, Kurt Zaner, described this case as one of the most rewarding he has ever worked on and expressed satisfaction with the jury’s verdict. Zaner hopes that the outcome of this case will encourage safety prioritization at other Colorado work sites, emphasizing the importance of holding companies accountable for safety lapses.
Straughen voiced that the $30 million verdict will make a significant difference for him and his family, especially in reclaiming lost time with his children due to his injuries. However, efforts to reach DHI Energy Services for comment were unsuccessful, leaving the possibility of an appeal uncertain.
Despite the outcome, Zaner mentioned the positive impact of the case on the oil and gas industry, emphasizing the potential for changes in safety practices to ensure a safer work environment. He also noted that the company is no longer operating the type of frac tanks involved in the explosion.
The judgment received by Straughen serves as a reminder of the importance of workplace safety and the potential consequences of negligence, especially in hazardous industries.