Driver of fuel truck at fault in gas station explosion | News

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- The State Fire Marshal's Office says the man who drove the tanker delivering fuel when a BP station exploded in Augustine was at fault.

According to our news partner, The St. Augustine Record, David Cowles demonstrated culpable negligence by leaving the tanker unattended while it was off-loading fuel.

Cowles was severely burned in the accident, which was one of the biggest explosions in years in St. Augustine. Cowles planned to sue Coomes Oil and Supply in October.

Stuart Ratzan, attorney for Cowles, said the Fire Marshal's report is wrong and it's a travesty.

Ratzan said the gas station owner did not properly account for how much gas is actually in the tanks, since gas expands in heat.

The owner based his inventory records of what he paid for, not how much gas was actually in the tanks due to hotter temperatures, so the amount of gas in the tanks was probably underestimated by thousands of gallons, Ratzan said.