KSHB 41 reporter Fernanda Silva covers stories in the Northland, including Liberty. She also focuses on issues surrounding immigration. Share your story idea with Fernanda.
—
Liberty Utilities will pay the maximum civil penalty of $30,000 in the April 2025 explosion that killed 5-year-old Alistair Lamb and injured his father and sister in Lexington, Missouri.
Attorney General Catherine Hanaway's office said the penalty is not intended to serve as restitution for the family.
RELATED | Lexington community still healing 1 year after deadly gas explosion
The AG’s office says Liberty Utilities violated the Missouri Underground Facility Safety and Damage Prevention Act and failed to properly mark a gas line in Lexington.
According to the AG’s office, Liberty Utilities “falsely told an excavator that all its gas pipelines had been properly marked.” The contractor began excavation and struck an unmarked gas main, leading to natural gas leaking for hours before the explosion.
LINK | Read the National Transportation Safety Board's full report into the pipeline explosion
The consent judgment, filed in the Circuit Court of Lafayette County, also requires the company to remap all underground facilities it owns or operates within Lexington, Missouri.
It further requires Liberty Utilities to comply with the Missouri Underground Facility Safety and Damage Prevention Act for all future activities in the state.
“No enforcement action or monetary penalty can undo the heartbreak of losing a child and a home, but it can drive change,” said Attorney General Hanaway. “Missourians deserve to trust that the utilities serving them will do so responsibly. My office is committed to enforcing accountability and safety improvements on behalf of ratepayers.”
According to the AG’s office, Missouri’s Underground Facility Safety and Damage Prevention Act requires utility companies to respond to “locate” requests and mark the location of underground facilities within two working days.
The office says Liberty responded and dispatched a locator to mark facilities — but the markings were incorrect due to a mapping error.
Liberty Utilities sent KSHB 41 News this statement:
"There is no greater priority for Liberty than the safety of our customers, employees and communities. We remain committed to making ongoing improvements, including implementing solutions to help prevent future incidents and enhance the safety of our communities. We will not hesitate to take any action needed to protect the public."
More leaks after the explosion
Months after the explosion, in September 2025, two gas leaks occurred within a 24-hour period, prompting evacuations.
Following that, the mayor and city administrator filed a complaint with the Missouri Attorney General, saying Liberty "failed to mark gas lines."
Lexington Mayor Tom Hughes learned from KSHB 41 News about the consent judgment Friday. He said the explosion caused extensive damage to the city.
"The damage that was done by the explosion in Lexington — it's going to be multi-million dollar damage." Hughes said.
When told the maximum penalty was $30,000, Hughes put it in perspective.
"$30,000 is a drop in the bucket compared to multi-million dollars," Hughes said.
Still, Hughes said he hopes the action prevents future tragedies.
"Well, I pray that never happens again." Hughes said.
The consent judgment also requires Liberty Utilities to remap all underground facilities it owns and operates in Lexington.
The company began that process in November 2025, with hopes of finishing by early 2026, according to the Mayor. Hughes said that timeline has since been pushed back.
"Well, we just heard the other day that the people remapping would probably be here another year," Hughes said.
—
