Saturday, September 17, 2005
CAMPBELL -- Workers drilling holes to install guardrail adjacent to the new Walton Avenue Bridge ruptured a 6-inch natural gas line, causing the temporary evacuation of 50-75 people from nearby homes and businesses.
Fire Capt. Gene Skelley said a crew from Lake Erie Construction, a subcontractor on the bridge job, was drilling holes in the ground when it hit the line just after 11 a.m. Friday.
The line was a new gas line recently installed to serve the Casey Equipment Corp. on Union Street. It was marked, and the drill hit it about three feet down, Skelley said.
Pressure from the ruptured line spewed rocks and debris from the hole 20 feet into the air and the escaping gas vapor was clearly visible, he said.
People got out
Authorities quickly evacuated a number of nearby businesses and homes, removing between 50 and 75 people from the area. The scene wasn't cleared until about 1:30 p.m., Skelley said.
A spokesman for Dominion East Ohio said the ruptured line is a service line that belongs to the customer, who must have it repaired. A gas company crew shut down service to the line, and it won't be restored until the damage is repaired. That could be next week, the spokesman said.
Efforts to contact Casey Equipment were unsuccessful.