Widow of worker killed in 2016 pipeline explosion files suit against Georgia-based company
The accident happened in a Birmingham, Alabama suburb in October 2016.
July 17, 2018
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. —
The widow of a employee killed in a pipeline explosion two years ago is filing suit against the Georgia-based company that owned it.
The widow of Bill Whatley filed the lawsuit in Fulton County July 17. It blames Colonial Pipeline, based out of Alpharetta, for her husband's wrongful death and negligence.
The accident happened in a Birmingham, Alabama suburb in October 2016.
Crews were excavating part of the pipeline when it exploded. The lawsuit claims a project inspector didn't show up on the day of the explosion, but the company moved forward with work anyway. The explosion killed Whatley and another worker.
After the accident, it caused a fuel shortage across the metro and the entire southeast.
Colonial Pipeline owns the larges refined petroleum pipeline in the United States, moving more than a million gallons of fuel a day.
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HEFLIN, Ala. (WIAT) -- A second L.E. Bell Construction worker involved in the Oct. 31st Colonial Pipeline explosion has died, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) confirms.
OSHA tells us they were notified of the death of William "Bill" Whatley on Nov. 22 by Heflin-based L.E. Bell Construction.
According to Whatley's obituary, he was laid to rest Saturday, Nov. 26, and that his L.E. Bell family and Colonial Pipeline both thought highly of him.
L.E. Bell worker Anthony Willingham died at the scene of the explosion, Colonial Pipeline previously told us.
Dec. 5, Colonial Pipeline released a summary of the Oct. 31st incident, saying it "resulted in the death of one contractor and the hospitalization of five others." We called them Tuesday for comment on Whatley's death. They deferred to L.E. Bell Construction for any additional confirmation, and acknowledged they were aware of the second fatality, but hadn't announced it out of respect for the Whatley family.
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Bill Whatley
January 24, 1957 - November 21, 2016
Bill Monroe Whatley, 59, of Raleigh, MS died Monday, November 21, 2016 at UAB Birmingham, AL. He was born Thursday, January 24, 1957 in Magee, MS.Visitation will be held Friday, November 25, 2016 from 11:00 AM until 9:00 PM at Wilkinson Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh. Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 26, 2016 at 11:00 AM at Wilkinson Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh. Burial will follow in Whatley Family Cemetery in Raleigh, MS. Marvin Phillips and John Goodhugh will officiate. Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Raleigh is in charge of arrangements. (601)782-4544
Bill was employed by LE Bell Construction Company in Heflin, AL. LE Bell family and Colonial Pipeline thought highly of him.
He is preceded in death by his parents, William Walter Whatley and Helen Roberta Whatley, brother, Pete Whatley.
Survivors include his wife, Patsy Whatley, Raleigh, son, Michael Dale Whatley (BJ), Raleigh, son, Jason Whatley, Raleigh, son, Brian Whatley (Kimberly), Raleigh, grand children, Dalton Ryan Whatley, Braydon Whatley, Cross Whatley, Blade Whatley, Landon Whatley, Destinee Whatley, Isabella Nicole Whatley, Matthew Prestiage, sister, Peggy Griffin (Hughy), Morton, sister, Alice Moore (Lawrence), Lucedale, brother, WC Whatley (Shirley), White Oak, brother, Roger Whatley (Sheryl), Bryan, TX, brother, Charlie Whatley, Magee. ==============================
2016 Colonial Pipeline Gasoline Pipeline Rupture, Helena, AL
NTSB
Accident Investigation
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Accident Date:
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10/31/2016 |
Location:
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Helena, AL |
Accident #:
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Accident Reports:
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Date Adopted:
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Related:
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CPF 2-2016-5005H |
Accident Synopsis
NTSB Press Release - 11/4/2016
NTSB Opens Investigation of Fatal Pipeline
Accident
The NTSB opened an investigation Thursday into a pipeline accident in
Helena, Alabama, in which one worker died and four others were seriously
injured. The 36-inch diameter pipeline carrying gasoline, operated by
Colonial Pipeline, ruptured during maintenance operations at 2:55 p.m.
ET Monday.The team of five NTSB investigators, led by investigator-in-charge Roger Evans, arrived at the accident site Thursday. The NTSB is leading the investigation of the accident.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is coordinating closely with the NTSB to ensure all documentation and relevant information PHMSA developed in the first hours and days following the accident are shared with the NTSB.
NTSB investigators expect to be in Alabama for several days conducting interviews, documenting the accident site and surrounding area, and collecting physical evidence.
NTSB investigators will travel to the Colonial Pipeline offices in Alpharetta, Georgia, to interview operations and engineering staff, review control room operations, and collect operating data and documents.