Accident Reports:
A 4-inch high-pressure gas line was damaged by a crew repairing a water main break. A gas repair crew sealed the damaged pipe and rerouted the gas line. However, it took several days to repair the water main, and a stretch of road had to be closed during the repair work. Reports did not indicate whether the gas line had been marked.
Baltimore, MD
03/10/2005
The driver of a tractor accidentally ruptured a high pressure gas pipeline while helping a pickup truck owner out of the creek bed where he had gotten stuck. The gas ignited, and emergency crews managed to save the truck, but the tractor was a total loss. It's driver escaped injury, which local authorities called a miracle. The incident remains under investigation.
Sweetwater, TX
03/06/2005
On December 28, 2004 three people were killed after a gas explosion tore apart a commercial building. More lab work is planned to determine the exact cause. Officials found a leaky coupling beneath a parking lot nearby after the explosion and say more tests will continue into March in an effort to determine what caused the coupling to leak.
Ramsey, MN
02/24/2005
Hundreds of people were evacuated when a gas line was ruptured after contractors hit it while removing a tree. About 400 residents and two schools with over 1,000 children were evacuated safely and no injuries were reported. More information was not provided.
Sydney, Australia
02/23/2005
Traffic was rerouted for six hours after a construction crew hit a 16-inch gas line near a highway. A fire official stated that to repair the leak, pressure had to be reduced by 100 pounds, a process that took about an hour. According to reports, no homes in the area were affected, but five businesses were.
Lubbock, TX
02/22/2005
A bulldozer operator hit a 6-inch gas line with his blade causing an evacuation of anyone near the area. The line was marked, but the inexperienced operator got too close, according reports. Firefighters were standing by while gas service personnel planned a method to repair the line without disrupting service to the area. If service had been turned off, customers would be without gas for up to 10 hours.
Springdale, AR
02/22/2005
Traffic was halted for about three hours after a construction crew broke a 2-inch gas line. No injuries were reported, but 10 residents were evacuated from the immediate area which was blocked off as a precaution. No further details were provided.
Houston, TX
02/21/2005
A severed water main affected water pressure to residents after contractors upgrading a water treatment plant broke a water main. Crews were able to find the break about forty-five minutes later and repair the break. With the loss of pressure, officials warned residents that minerals were dislodged in the water system, and that this would cause discoloration of water coming from the taps. They recommended running the water until it became clear again.
Athens, GA
02/15/2005