Source: KHTS Hometown Station
Date: 04/12/2026 10:49am

Article Summary:
**April 12, 1928: Coroner’s Jury Rules St. Francis Dam Disaster Accidental, Cites Engineering and Oversight Failures**
On April 12, 1928, a coroner’s jury concluded that victims of the St. Francis Dam collapse died accidentally from drowning and injuries, but cited major engineering and oversight failures as causes of the disaster. The jury found the dam was built on unstable ground, criticized inadequate review and safety measures, and placed responsibility on the Bureau of Water Works and Supply and its chief engineer, William Mulholland, though no criminal charges were recommended.

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