Worker reported leak an hour before fatal blast
(AP) A subcontractor working for a cable company hit a natural gas line with an underground borer more than an hour before an explosion leveled a popular Kansas City restaurant.
One person was killed. Missouri Gas Energy Chief Operating Officer Rob Hack says a Heartland Midwest worker called 911 at 4:54 p.m. Tuesday to report hitting a gas line near JJ's restaurant.
An MGE worker arrived at the scene at 5:16 p.m. and a backhoe got there about seven minutes before the 6:04 p.m. explosion to dig up the ground at the leak site.
Mayor Sly James says nobody reported a gas leak to the fire department or MGE prior to subcontractor's call to 911. Heartland Midwest did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
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