Suit: Rail work caused toilet explosion

A Seattle man claims in his suit against transit authorities that a toilet he was inspecting exploded as a result of work being performed on a light rail line.

Edmond Okolie said in his King County Superior Court suit that a toilet at an adult care facility exploded in November 2006 while he was inspecting it, knocking him to the ground and covering him in raw sewage, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported Wednesday.

The lawsuit claims the toilet explosion was caused by work being performed nearby on Sound Transit light rail line planned to connect Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and downtown Seattle. It claims the workers must have cut or blocked a sewer line, causing the line to pressurize and explode.

The suit is seeking unspecified compensation. Sound Transit has not yet filed a response.