Second lawsuit filed in fatal rig explosion

MCALESTER — A second wrongful death lawsuit has been filed over a natural gas rig explosion in Oklahoma that killed five workers.

Betty Jo Cunningham, of Seminole, filed the lawsuit Friday. Cunningham is the widow of Roger Cunningham, one of three Oklahoma men killed in the Jan. 22 explosion.

The lawsuit names Red Mountain Energy, Red Mountain Operating, Patterson-UTI Drilling and Patterson-UTI Energy.

The widow of Parker Waldridge, also of Oklahoma, filed a similar lawsuit a week earlier.

Patterson-UTI hasn't responded to a request for comment, but previously said it's committed to preventing future accidents.

An attorney for Red Mountain hasn't returned a phone request for comment.

The explosion near Quinton, about 150 miles east of Oklahoma City in Pittsburg County, also killed Matt Smith, of Oklahoma, Josh Ray, of Texas, and Cody Risk, of Colorado.