First lawsuits filed in West fertilizer plant explosion

The first two lawsuits have been filed against the West Fertilizer Company explosion that killed 15 on April 17.

Both civil suits were filed in McLennan County district court against Adair Grain Inc., which also does business as West Fertilizer. One of the lawsuits was jointly filed by several businesses and two churches in West and their insurance companies.

The second suit was filed by Andrea Jones Gutierrez, a single mother who said her families belongings were destroyed in her apartment near the blast zone. She is seeking up to $1 million for lost possessions and lost wages and benefits.

Investigators still have not determined the cause of the explosion but say a rail car full of ammonium nitrate was not the cause.

Officials say the blast created a crater 93 feet wide and 10 feet deep.