Road Crew Ruptures Gas Line, Forcing Evacuation
A road crew repairing a street in Rowland Heights accidentally ruptured a gas line Thursday, forcing the evacuation of several homes and sending students at a nearby elementary school into the cafeteria for safety.
There were no injuries or significant damage caused by the accident at about 2:20 p.m. in the 2600 block of South Norsewood Drive, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Sgt. Larry Wineinger.
Equipment being used to repair the road struck a six-inch gas line and broke it, Wineinger said, sending natural gas fumes into the air.
About 200 children at nearby Blandwood Elementary School were herded into the cafeteria, where they waited to be picked up by parents, a school official said.
Neighborhood residents who were evacuated returned to their homes after repairs were made late Thursday afternoon, Wineinger said.
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