Man Injured in Toilet Blast Files Suit

AP ^ | 6/2/5

[SmithL]

Morgantown, W.Va. -- A Pennsylvania man injured when a portable toilet exploded is suing a general contractor and a coal company for negligence.

John Jenkins, 53, and his wife Ramona Jenkins, 35, of Brave, Pa., filed the lawsuit in Monongalia County Circuit Court on Tuesday. They are suing Chisler Inc., a general contractor from Fairview, and Eastern Associated Coal Corp. for $10 million in damages.

The explosion occurred July 13, 2004, at Parrish Shaft in Blacksville. Jenkins, a North West Fuels Development Inc. methane power plant operator, entered a portable toilet, sat down and tried to light a cigarette.

"When I struck the lighter, the whole thing just detonated — the whole top blew off," John Jenkins said. "I can't tell you if it blew me out the door or if I jumped out."

[SmithL]

Submitted for your thoughtful consideration.

[Mikey_1962]

Didn't I see this on Mythbusters?

[Millee]

Co-defendant: Van deKamps Pork and Beans.

[ctlpdad]

Damn, dude, that stinks. What a s4itty outhouse joke, the old methane in the crapper trick!

[tfecw]

it was and they had to use gun powder to light it with a ciggy.

"The lawsuit says the cigarette ignited methane gas leaking from a pipe underneath the unit."

Perhaps they should have tried it while pumping methane directly into their little blast chamber.

[pikachu]

finally, proof that smoking is dangerous
/sarcasm

[WSGilcrest]

The guy was a methane power plant operator. Must've aclimated himself to the smell. Still, he should know not to smoke on the john.

[Dog Gone]

It was caused by a leaking pipeline. It had nothing to do with the toilet except its proximity to the leak.

[Old Sarge]

We had a sandstorm out here in the training area, and four Porta-johns were blown over. One of the was occupied.

Chalk it up under "Things That make You Go 'EWWWWWW!'"

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

When I worked at the prison, they had porta johns on the ball field for the inmates. Well one evening, a fag went into one and the guys tipped it over. He came out covered in crap, paper, urine, etc...

It was a definite "Sucks to be you" moment.

[peacebaby]

gives new meaning to "blowing your ass off."

[Old Sarge]

There's a flash movie someplace on the Web, about a troop in theater in a portajohn, and two of his "buddies" taking a run shot and knocking it sideways.

The first guy crawls out, and proceeds to chase the other two around swinging his Kevlar at them!

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

I do not know if I could stop vomiting long enough to chase someone.

[Deaf Smith]

"Still, he should know not to smoke"

Locations such as this business generally do not allow ANY smoking. If he was sneaking a smoke, he got caught.

[ladtx]

They are suing Chisler Inc

Probably represented by the law firm of Dewey, Cheatem, and Howe.

[tuffydoodle]

They noticed him when he was flying through the air with his pants down around his ankles, cig in one hand, newspaper in the other.

[tuffydoodle]

cowtown ping. Any comments?

[Eagle Eye]

Yes, the Yarbrough Incident.

That shoulder block was very well coordinated. Impressive.

[Eagle Eye]

With the chemicals in the tank of a portajohn there won't be methane accumulating.

My vote is the leaking pipeline.

[robertpaulsen]