Jacinto Gonzalez, Odilia Rodriguez Injured In Madison County Home Explosion Accident

Unsafe Premises - July 5, 2025

Jacinto Gonzalez, 39 Odilia Rodriguez, 36, Ashlei Fonseca, 18, Gresia Gonzalez, 11, Luis Antonio Gonzalez, 7, Injured In Potential Gas Explosion Accident At State Park Place Home —> GoFundMe Created To Help Support Family

MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS (July 5, 2025) – A family of five identified as Jacinto Gonzalez, Odilia Rodriguez, Ashlei Fonseca, Gresia Gonzalez, and Luis Antonio Gonzalez were injured in a State Park Place home explosion.

Madison County officials are saying that the accident took place as the family of five were sleeping around 1:45 a.m. on Monday. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the 3300 block of Fairmont Avenue in State Park Place.

Homeowners Jacinto Gonzalez and Odilia Rodriguez and their three children, Ashlei Fonseca, 18, Gresia Gonzalez, 11, and Luis Antonio Gonzalez, 7, were identified as the victims.

Yasmin Giles is the aunt of the injured children. She told reporters that the youngest boy, Luis Gonzalez, was transported to a hospital in Indiana to receive treatment for severe burn injuries. His sister, Ashlei Fonseca, sustained a broken back and serious burns as a result of the explosion.

Jacinto Gonzalez, Odilia Rodriguez, and Gresia Gonzalez all sustained burn injuries in the blast as well. In addition to the serious injuries, the family lost their home and all early possessions contained therein.

A photo of the home shows that it has been reduced to a pile of burnt rubble. Prior to the explosion, there is a report that the family told Ameren Illinois that they smelled gas at the property.

You can help support the family through GoFundMe. According to Evangelina Gonzalez who organized the fundraiser, “While they all managed to escape, each family member is now in critical condition, fighting for their lives in different hospitals, and undergoing urgent surgeries. They have lost everything. We’re reaching out to our community to rally around them in this desperate time of need.”

A full investigation into the Madison County home explosion remains ongoing at this time.

Liability for Madison County Gas Explosion Accidents

Gas leaks can be incredibly dangerous and are one of the most common causes of home explosions across Illinois. According to NBC 15 News, “Rich Meier is a fire explosion expert who has investigated more than 500 fires and explosions — involving both natural gas and propane. He told Spotlight on America natural gas and gas pipelines are involved in these catastrophic explosions about half the time or more in his experience.” Many different problems with gas lines could potentially contribute to a natural gas explosion.

• Pipe Corrosion: Underground or older steel pipes are susceptible to rust and corrosion over time. This may contribute to a gas leak.
• Improper Installation: In order to function properly, gas lines must be installed correctly. Loose connection ends or poor sealing can cause gas to accumulate in certain areas or leak.
• Third-Party Damage: Any type of damage to gas lines could potentially cause a leak and explosion. This is particularly common when construction companies are digging around gas lines.
• Improper Maintenance: Gas lines require routine maintenance. Failing to regularly inspect and maintain gas lines can lead to cracks or other issues being undetected.

Gas companies within the state of Illinois are considered public utilities. Courts have routinely held them to a high standard of care, given the potential hazards associated with natural gas. They must properly install, maintain, and inspect all of their equipment so that it stays in a reasonably safe condition. This necessitates that they properly investigate and remedy any reported gas odors or possible leaks. If a gas company has actual or constructive notice of a leak at a property and failed to fix the issue, they could face civil liability for any resulting accident.

Courts have consistently held gas companies liable for explosions when they fail to exercise due care in the maintenance of their equipment. Consider,  for example, Erckman v. Northern Illinois Gas Co., 1965. A gas explosion destroyed a plaintiff’s home. After reviewing the case, an Illinois court held that the Northern Illinois Gas Co. could be held liable for the incident on the basis that it failed to properly inspect and maintain its gas lines. There are many potential examples of negligence on the part of a gas company.

• A gas company may have failed to properly inspect or replace old lines that began to show signs of corrosion.
• A gas company may have ignored or dismissed a customer’s complaints about gas odors at a property.
• A gas company may have had an improper response to a known leak at a certain location.

It is imperative that gas companies properly address any known or suspected leak. At a minimum, this should include informing the customers to leave the premises out of an abundance of caution. An on-site technician should be sent out to investigate the leak. They should use gas detection equipment and shut off the gas line if necessary. It is important that victims of gas explosions understand that they do have legal rights. They are able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim.

Investigating Madison County Gas Explosion Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to Jacinto Gonzalez, Odilia Rodriguez, Ashlei Fonseca, Gresia Gonzalez, and Luis Antonio Gonzalez as they continue to recover. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. While a full investigation remains ongoing, there are growing signs that this was a preventable tragedy that should have been averted. There needs to be accountability for the sake of all of the victims.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a gas explosion accident in State Park Place, Illinois? You may have legal recourse. Our team of personal injury attorneys are committed to getting victims the financial resources and medical support that they need to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident, we are here to serve your needs and stand by your side. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.