Family of Ohio blast victim reaches $6.1M settlement in wrongful death lawsuit

The family of Akil Drake, a 27-year-old Penn Hills native who died May 28, 2024, in the Realty Tower explosion in Ohio, landed a $6.1 million settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Patrick McFarland, who represents Drake’s estate, filed the settlement in March.

On April 11, a motion was filed for the settlement documents to be sealed. The motion was dismissed by Mahoning County Probate Court Judge Robert Rusu Jr. after a hearing May 12 because of a “lack of convincing evidence.”

According to court documents, the family will receive about $3.6 million after subtracting attorney fees. YO Properties 47 LLC, LY Property Management LLC and Greenheart Companies LLC will pay $3 million of the settlement. Enbridge-East Ohio Gas-Dominion-related companies will pay $2.9 million. A Nieder Architecture and MS Consultants each will pay $100,000.

Drake’s mother, Sharnette Crite-Evans, will receive about $1.8 million. His sister, Traesha Pritchard, will receive about $1.4 million, while his paternal grandparents each will receive $54,000. Drake’s seven paternal half-brothers and sisters on his father’s side each will receive $36,000.

The Drake family did not respond to requests for comment.

Rusu is expected to hold another hearing at 2 p.m. July 17 to approve the disbursement of funds to the family.

Lee Davis, a violence prevention program director for Braddock-based Greater Valley Community Services and mentor to Drake, said he was happy for the family when he heard about the settlement.

“It never makes things easier, but it helps out,” he said.

Davis said one of Drake’s closest friends began working with the Greater Valley Community Services to spread awareness about Drake’s “story of resilience.”

“(Drake) was a great young man with a level head and an inspiration to many young people,” Davis said.

The natural gas explosion resulted in the collapse of the first floor of Realty Tower, which housed Chase Bank — where Drake began working in 2021. After two years, he was promoted to relationship banker.

At the time of the blast, improvements were being done in the basement to fix outdated infrastructure. A court document notes Drake died while trying to save lives, going back into the building in an attempt to rescue others.

Drake, who resided in Youngstown, Ohio, was a 2015 Penn Hills High School graduate and a member of its football team. He attended Youngstown University as a finance major and graduated in 2019.

Drake also is survived by his fiancée, Victoria Gonzalez, whom he dated for seven years.