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Gas explosion claims life of former Scott man

By IH Staff | January 21, 2010

TUCKER, Ga. — A gas explosion here Friday afternoon claimed the life of a former Scott County man.

Larry Dobbs, 51, of Newnan, Ga., and formerly of Oneida, was killed instantly in the accident, which occurred while he was working on fuel lines in a manhole at a vacant gas station.

The father of five was a 1976 graduate of Oneida High School. He was one of seven siblings, and was working with his brother, Alan Dobbs, and nephew when the accident occurred.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the accident occurred just before 5 p.m. Friday in DeKalb County, Ga.

Fire investigators believed a vapor line was the cause of the explosion, which was powerful enough to blow the metal lids off a dozen nearby manholes.

The vapor line is designed to capture gas vapors from the nearby gas tanks.
Dobbs was reportedly the only member of the crew underground when the explosion occurred. However, a second person was hospitalized with burns.

Dobbs made a career out of work on gas lines. His brother told CBS Atlanta that they had worked together on similar projects for 37 years.

“We’ve always kidded about we had some close calls, but we never planned on this,” Alan Dobbs told the TV station.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was investigating the accident.

Visitation was scheduled for yesterday (Wednesday) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at West-Murley Funeral Home, with a graveside service scheduled for 11 a.m. today at Jeffers Cemetery.