Potential Legal Implications Out of Gas Line Explosion at Fresno Co. Sheriff’s Gun Range

A massive gas line explosion at the Fresno County Sheriff’s gun range has left 11 people injured and seven still in the hospital on Saturday night.

A Fresno County Public Works employee was driving a front loader tractor on Friday afternoon when a gas pipeline was struck. The tractor driver and eight jail inmates working on the range were hurt. Two Sheriff Deputies were also injured, suffering sun burn-like injuries and ringing in their ears. But, both been released from the hospital.

The driver is in stable, but critical condition. Five inmates are in stable condition, but one inmate is in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. Two inmates who were hurt on Friday have been released from the hospital, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

David Mugridge is a Fresno defense attorney. He said he has shot at the gun range before, which is located off near the 99 Freeway and Herndon Avenue in Northwest Fresno. He said, "This is a well-known facility to anyone that is in law enforcement. They’ve been out here for 25, 30 years, I think."

From a legal point of view, Mugridge believes the testimonies and investigations done by the Sheriff’s office and PG&E will come to a head.

"It might be a little bit of fault on PG&E, and a fault on the part of the Sheriff’s Department. That’s the kind of thing that’s gonna have to be fleshed out now and investigated,. People are gonna have to be asked questions," said Mugridge.

Mugridge said he’s certain many of the inmates will file lawsuits against both the Sheriff’s Office and PG&E, despite what arguments are made on either side.