Lowellville man injured in 2009 fiery explosion files $3M lawsuit

YOUNGSTOWN — A laborer severely injured in a 2009 accident has sued the company that employed him and its equipment manufacturer for $3 million.

Lee A. Whinery, 48, of New Castle Road, Lowellville, and his wife, Christine, sued Virgin Oil Ltd.; its owner and president, Larry Frangos; and Wastewater Management Inc. of Cleveland, Virgin’s equipment manufacturer.

The suit was filed this week in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Whinery said he suffered third-degree burns over 75 percent of his body and was painfully and permanently injured in a fiery industrial explosion.

On Feb. 25, 2009, Whinery “was profoundly injured when, while standing next to a large separating tank, a huge explosion occurred and a fireball engulfed him” at Virgin’s wastewater pre-treatment plant at 1630 Wilson Ave., Youngstown, the lawsuit says.

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