On Thursday, Louisville marked the two‑year anniversary of the deadly explosion at the former Givaudan food‑coloring plant in the Clifton neighborhood. The blast in 2024 killed two workers, Kevens Dawson Jr. and Austin Jaggers, and seriously injured three others, while also damaging nearby homes and businesses on Payne Street.
According to WLKY, a memorial service began at 2:45 p.m. on Thursday, with parts of Bellaire Avenue slated to be renamed in honor of Dawson and Jaggers. Spectrum News 1 reported that the ceremony also remembered Louis Perry, who was killed in a 2003 explosion at the same facility, and that the alley leading to the former plant site is being renamed for all three victims.
Family members shared personal reflections. Zhaneice Dawson, mother of Kevens Dawson Jr., said she was grateful her son’s name would not be forgotten. She described her son’s “big smile, goofy jokes” and his dedication to his six‑year‑old daughter. Lorie Hibbard, whose grandfather died in the 2003 blast, expressed relief that his name would also be recognized.
Federal investigators told reporters that the 2024 explosion occurred after the reactor vessel’s pressure‑relief system failed, causing a dangerous buildup of temperature and pressure. At 2:57 p.m., Reactor 6 ruptured, sending molten caramel coloring and mangled metal into the surrounding area. In May, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board released its final report, recommending larger emergency pressure‑relief systems and safer facility designs.
The plant’s remnants were demolished earlier this year. WLKY noted that the Metro Council voted to change the property’s zoning from industrial to commercial manufacturing, while Spectrum News 1 added that the site has been rezoned to allow light industrial or mixed‑use development, and that a facility like Givaudan’s will not be permitted there. The future use of the cleared lot has not yet been decided.
Several lawsuits filed by residents and former employees remain ongoing, as families continue to seek compensation for injuries and property damage.
What’s next: City officials say the rezoned parcel will be considered for future development proposals, and the ongoing lawsuits are expected to proceed through the courts in the coming months.
Sources: wlky.com, spectrumnews1.com
