Mom of Dallas girl who died in natural gas explosion lobbies for tougher laws

AUSTIN, Texas - A Dallas woman made an emotional plea to state lawmakers to pass laws to prevent a natural gas explosion that the one that killed her daughter.

Speaking in Spanish and crying at times, Maria Rogers talked about losing her 12-year-old daughter.

Michellita Rogers died more than a year ago when an explosion destroyed her family’s home in northwest Dallas.

“When the firefighters came where Michellita was my husband already had her in his arms,” she said through a translator. “It looked like Michellita had fainted.”

She told lawmakers her daughter’s death could have been avoided if Atmos had changed the pipes.

State Representative Rafael Anchia of Dallas sponsored three bills targeting Atmos Energy and other natural gas providers to encourage the replacement of old lines and other fixes.