Gas Company Linked To Massachusetts Explosions Has Had Prior Incidents

The corporate parent of the Massachusetts natural gas utility that’s the focus of an investigation into explosions and fires that killed one person and injured about 25 others had links to three previous gas line blasts, a review of federal and state records and court filings shows. The links emerged as Columbia Gas of Massachusetts scrambled to provide assistance and information to residents of Lawrence, North Andover and other Merrimack Valley communities after Thursday’s tragedy. The history of other accidents also came as the National Transportation Safety Board launched an investigation that showed Columbia Gas pipes in the area of the explosions had been over-pressurized.