West Virginia Widow Settles Wrongful Death Suit with Energy Companies for $18M

Energy companies will pay $18 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the widow of a man who died in a flash fire at a natural gas station in Tyler County, West Virginia.

The settlement involves the April 2013 death of Bruce Phipps. Karen Phipps filed the lawsuit in Ohio County Circuit Court after her husband and two other workers were severely burned at the Eureka Hunter Pipeline facility in the town of Wick. The other workers survived.

The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register reports that officials believe the fire occurred when a vapor cloud formed at the station and ignited.

Besides his wife, Phipps also is survived by a daughter, two grandchildren and three siblings. An annuity created by the settlement will benefit his survivors.