Missouri

Examining the aftermath of the Lexington, Missouri, gas explosion

Stories by Kansas City Star journalists, with AI summarization

This group of articles sheds light on many sides of the Lexington, Missouri, gas explosion.

Investigations reveal a subcontractor struck an unmarked gas line while laying fiber optic cable, which led to leaking gas and a deadly home explosion. Neighbors reported smelling gas for hours, but no evacuation order was issued — leaving residents angry and accusing city officials and utilities of negligence.

Lawsuits from affected families allege Liberty Utilities and construction companies failed to mark lines properly and respond to the leak in time, resulting in a boy's death, severe injuries and historic property damage. The articles highlight gaps in utility locating, response protocols and emergency communication that are now at the center of official and legal reviews.

Homes in Lexington, Missouri, were damaged in a gas explosion Wednesday. Residents said the blast was heard more than a dozen miles away.

NO. 1: UTILITY CREWS INVESTIGATE GAS EXPLOSION THAT KILLED CHILD IN MISSOURI CITY

On its Facebook page Friday morning, Liberty Utilities Central told customers there wasn’t an estimated time for when services would be restored. | Published April 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Laura Bauer Eric Adler

Travis and Maria Summers had 18 windows blown out of their circa 1860 home one block away. They saw Camillia “Cali” Lamb run screaming from the explosion. “I’m angry. This was preventable,” Maria said. By Eric Adler

NO. 2: DEADLY EXPLOSION IN LEXINGTON, MISSOURI, LEAVES RESIDENTS ANGRY: ‘THIS WAS PREVENTABLE!’

“It was like a bomb,” Maria Summers said. “I never heard anything louder or harder in my life.” | Published April 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Eric Adler Laura Bauer

Alistair Lamb, 5, died in the house explosion in Lexington, Missouri.

NO. 3: GAS EXPLOSION THAT KILLED MISSOURI BOY WAS A SECOND TRAGEDY FOR THE FAMILY

Before the explosion in Lexington that killed a 5-year-old boy, his family suffered a tragedy when his mom died two days after Christmas in 2023. | Published April 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Laura Bauer Eric Adler

Homes in Lexington, Missouri, were damaged in a gas explosion Wednesday. The concrete steps to the home of Jacob Cunningham, where his son, Alistair Lamb, age 5, was killed. Cunningham and his daughter, Camillia Lamb, 10, were severely burned and remain hospitalized.

NO. 4: FEDS OPEN RARE INVESTIGATION INTO FATAL GAS EXPLOSION IN LEXINGTON, MISSOURI

Lexington city officials said they could not speak with The Star about the gas explosion that killed a 5-year-old boy and severely injured his father and sister while a federal investigation is underway. | Published April 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Eric Adler Laura Bauer

Homes in Lexington, Missouri, were damaged in a gas explosion Wednesday. The concrete steps to the home of Jacob Cunningham, where his son, Alistair Lamb, age 5, was killed. Cunningham and his daughter, Camillia Lamb, 10, were severely burned and remain hospitalized.

NO. 5: ‘CALL BEFORE YOU DIG’ SYSTEM IN LEXINGTON EXPLOSION WORKED. SO WHAT WENT WRONG?

Executive director of the Missouri One Call System says “everybody did the right thing” in the utility notification process. What went wrong later and what triggered the deadly explosion is part of the ongoing investigation. | Published April 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Laura Bauer Eric Adler

Photo immediately following an April 9 gas line explosion at 17th Street and Franklin Avenue in Lexington, Missouri. Cell photo snapped by Luke Peckham, 14, and shared from the cell phone of his father, Jacob Peckham. By Emily Curiel

NO. 6: NO WARNING: NEIGHBORS BLAME POLICE, FIRE AFTER DEADLY MISSOURI GAS EXPLOSION

In Lexington, Missouri, a natural gas leak had been reported hours before an explosion killed a 5-year-old boy and severely injured his father and sister. Why didn’t police and fire officials evacuate the area? | Published April 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Eric Adler Laura Bauer

Photo immediately following an April 9 gas line explosion at 17th Street and Franklin Avenue in Lexington, Missouri. Cell photo snapped by Luke Peckham, 14, and shared from the cell phone of his father, Jacob Peckham. By Emily Curiel

NO. 7: WHEN SHOULD YOU EVACUATE FOR A GAS LEAK? FATAL MISSOURI EXPLOSION RAISES QUESTIONS

Why didn’t authorities evacuate homes in Lexington near the source of a gas leak? No one is saying, but fire officials across Missouri say “if you smell gas in your house ... get out of the house.” | Published April 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Laura Bauer Eric Adler

Photo immediately following an April 9 gas line explosion at 17th Street and Franklin Avenue in Lexington, Missouri. Cell photo snapped by Luke Peckham, 14, and shared from the cell phone of his father, Jacob Peckham. By Emily Curiel

NO. 8: SURVIVORS OF FATAL HOME EXPLOSION IN LEXINGTON SUE GAS, UTILITY COMPANIES

Attorneys for Jacob Cunningham and Cami Lamb filed an extensive lawsuit against four companies involved in the gas leak and explosion that killed 5-year-old Alistair Lamb, leveled homes and left Jacob and Cami with serious burns. | Published April 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ilana Arougheti

Homes in Lexington, Missouri, were damaged in a gas explosion Wednesday. The concrete steps to the home of Jacob Cunningham, where his son, Alistair Lamb, age 5, was killed. Cunningham and his daughter, Camillia Lamb, 10, were severely burned and remain hospitalized.

NO. 9: UNMARKED GAS LINE WAS DRILLED BEFORE MISSOURI EXPLOSION KILLED CHILD, EARLY REPORT SAYS

NTSB investigation into the Lexington gas explosion continues. Investigators will look at Liberty Utilities’ 811 responses, and local emergency response and evacuation procedures, Monday’s report said. | Published May 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Laura Bauer

Homes in Lexington, Missouri, were damaged in a gas explosion Wednesday. The concrete steps to the home of Jacob Cunningham, where his son, Alistair Lamb, age 5, was killed. Cunningham and his daughter, Camillia Lamb, 10, were severely burned and remain hospitalized.

NO. 10: SECOND FAMILY FILES SUIT AFTER FATAL MISSOURI GAS EXPLOSION DESTROYS HISTORIC HOME

Family files second lawsuit alleging negligence in a fatal gas explosion in Lexington, Missouri, that caused one death, several injuries, property damage, and the loss of their historic home. | Published May 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Robert A. Cronkleton

Photo immediately following an April 9 gas line explosion at 17th Street and Franklin Avenue in Lexington, Missouri. Cell photo snapped by Luke Peckham, 14, and shared from the cell phone of his father, Jacob Peckham. By Emily Curiel

NO. 11: LIBERTY UTILITIES ‘RECKLESS’ IN MISSOURI BLAST THAT KILLED BOY, ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS

“This was a preventable tragedy,” Attorney General Andrew Bailey said in a release Monday. “ ... We’re holding Liberty Utilities accountable to ensure that every utility in Missouri does its due diligence to prevent future disasters.” | Published May 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Eric Adler Laura Bauer

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.