Gas-Line Blast Injures Nine, Including Trooper

A gas line exploded in the rural eastern town of Ivel, burning four houses and injuring nine people, including an off-duty state trooper who helped rescue a woman and child, officials said.

Trooper Rick Conn suffered third-degree burns and was hospitalized in fair condition. Three other people were treated at hospitals and released; five others were hospitalized. Their conditions were not available.

Officials from the federal Office of Pipeline Safety said they would investigate the pipeline, which leads to a processing plant, once the blaze burned out.