From the Cary Fire Protection District:
Vehicle Strikes House; Gas Leak Prompts Evacuations
On Monday, February 17, at 4:55 p.m., the Cary Fire Protection District responded to the 1200 block of West Lake Drive for a reported vehicle crash into a residence.
Initial reports indicated that the driver was trapped inside the vehicle and that a natural gas line had been struck.
Firefighters arrived within four minutes and found a single sedan that had left the roadway and collided with the side of a home, shearing off the natural gas meter servicing the residence.
The vehicle came to rest directly on top of the sheared-off gas meter, further complicating the situation.
The male driver was safely removed from the vehicle within minutes and was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries and for further evaluation.
Due to the active gas leak, Nicor Gas was requested to the scene to assess and mitigate the hazard.
As a precaution, firefighters evacuated the affected townhome building, which consists of four residential dwellings.
In preparation for any potential fire or hazardous incident, crews connected to a nearby hydrant and deployed a hose line up to the building.
Nicor Gas determined that excavation was necessary to locate and secure the underground gas line.
A digging crew was called to the scene, and gas service was successfully shut off at 8:15 p.m.
Following the containment of the gas leak, the residence was ventilated, and the vehicle was removed from the scene.
The building sustained minor structural damage, and the local building department was notified for further evaluation.
The Cary Public Works Department also responded to assist with the incident.
We appreciate the cooperation of local residents who were temporarily unable to access their homes due to the incident.
The scene has since been turned over to Nicor Gas and the property owners.
The photos are courtesy of the Cary Fire Protection District.
