Warrant: Contractor Mismarked Gas Line Before Sun Prairie Explosion

July Blast Killed Firefighter, Damaged Several Downtown Buildings

By
Smoke from Sun Prairie explosion
A large plume of smoke from a massive fire is seen in Sun Prairie, Wis., Tuesday, July 10, 2018. Witnesses said the fire broke out after a loud boom Tuesday night shook the community. Police blocked off downtown streets from traffic and onlookers. Todd Richmond/AP Photo

Court documents say a contractor failed to properly mark a natural gas line that was struck and caused a deadly explosion in downtown Sun Prairie last summer.

A search warrant recently unsealed in Dane County Circuit Court states an employee of USIC failed to correctly mark the gas line in the street and instead targeted a spot on a sidewalk about 25 feet away. The State Journal reports the employee has refused to talk to investigators. USIC has not responded to messages about the warrant.

Firefighter Cory Barr was killed July 10 when a subcontractor placing a fiber communications lines underground for Verizon ruptured a gas line and triggered an explosion and fire. Firefighter Ryan Welch was critically injured. The blast destroyed six businesses and one home.

Stay informed on the latest news

Sign up for WPR’s email newsletter.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.