Sub-contractor in natural gas explosion wasn't registered in Wisconsin
Friday, July 20, 2018 9:12 a.m. CDT
SUN PRAIRIE, WI (MetroSource-WSAU)
State records say the contractor that struck a gas line in downtown Sun Prairie wasn’t registered to do business in Wisconsin.
The explosion that followed the gas leak leveled a city block and took the life of firefighter Cody Barr. Thirteen others were injured.
Published reports say that Michigan-based VC Tech was hired by Kansas-based Bear Communications to help install new fiber optic cable lines. It's not clear if the Michigan company had to be registered to work as a subcontractor. The company was supposed to use a technique known as directional boring to install new underground cables.
According to business records obtained by The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel VC Tech, Inc. is owned by Valentin Cociuba of Ypsilanti, Michigan. Cociuba has not spoken publicly since the blast.
There were dozens of 911 calls about a strong smell of gas in the area after the gas line was hit. Evacuations were underway for several minutes before the explosion.
It still hasn’t been determined if criminal charges will be filed in connection with the blast.