Estate of Lee County EMT killed in propane explosion files wrongful death lawsuit

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — A newly filed wrongful death lawsuit is shedding light on the moments leading up to a catastrophic explosion that claimed the life of a local mother, a Lee County EMT, last September.

The complaint, filed in Lee County Circuit Court, accuses a local crane company and its owner of gross negligence after a series of alleged safety failures resulted in a fatal blast at a property on Nalle Grade Road.

A "Foreseeable" Disaster

According to the filing, the incident began on September 13, 2025, when Noel Alvarez, owner of YOLO Crane, Inc., was working on a DIY project at his business yard. The lawsuit alleges Alvarez was attempting to mount a stove burner to the exterior of a metal shipping container.

Inside that container sat a 100-pound liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tank.

Attorneys for the estate of Jessica Marie Sanchez claim that as Alvarez used an electric power drill to penetrate the metal wall, the drill bit pierced the propane tank on the other side. The impact caused highly flammable gas to hiss into the confined, enclosed space.

Allegations of Negligence

The lawsuit highlights several critical failures that allegedly occurred after the tank was compromised:

• Failure to Evacuate: Despite the active leak, the complaint states Alvarez did not call the fire department or emergency authorities.
• False Sense of Security: The filing alleges Alvarez told Sanchez he was "taking care of the situation," leading her to believe the area was safe.
• Ignition Source: The shipping container reportedly remained energized with functional electrical power, providing a potential ignition source for the accumulating gas.

The resulting explosion was violent, engulfing the structure and the surrounding area in flames.

The Human Toll

Jessica Marie Sanchez suffered catastrophic thermal burns in the blast. After being airlifted to a specialized burn unit and spending a week in intensive care, she died from her injuries on September 19, 2025.

Sanchez leaves behind a minor child. Her mother, Lorena Keen, is now serving as the personal representative of the estate, seeking damages in excess of $50,000.

When reached for comment regarding the allegations, Noel Alvarez told Chief WINK Investigates Reporter Chorus Nylander he is leaving the matter entirely to his legal counsel. He declined to comment on the specific details of the incident. Nylander asked him the name of his attorney, Alvarez told him he did not know and didn’t know the name of the firm. 

The plaintiff is represented by the law firm Morgan & Morgan. Founder of Morgan and Morgan, John Morgan, released the following statement:

“A young child is now growing up without a mother because of a tragedy that should have never happened. Our lawsuit alleges that the defendant’s reckless actions and failure to act with proper urgency and care led to the catastrophic explosion. Ms. Sanchez was a loving mother and daughter and an important part of her community, where she worked as an EMT for Lee County. As her family navigates an unimaginable future without her, they are demanding answers as to why and how this could have happened. We will fight to uncover the full extent of failures that contributed to her untimely death.”

A jury trial has been demanded to determine the final value of the claim.