KENNEDY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A car struck a gas meter Friday morning in Kennedy Township, prompting evacuations near the accident scene.
The car went through a guiderail and struck the meter shortly after 9 a.m. on McKees Rock Road near Summit Road.
The car was sitting on top of the meter, and crews could not access the shut-off valve.
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Crews shut off the gas to eliminate the threat of a fire and explosion.
"It's dangerous, yes. Any little spark could cause ignition complications just because of the way the car sits on top of the shut-off,” said Captain Justin Gutt of Kennedy Township.
Crews first dug by hand, then an excavator was brought in to dig underneath the car to reach the shut-off valve. Crews were able to reach the valve and shut off the gas.
The gas company spent the next few hours repairing the line.
Residents of homes near the scene were evacuated as a precaution. The residents were loaded onto a Port Authority bus to stay warm.