ARREST AFTER CAR SMASHES INTO GAS SUB-STATION
HOMES EVACUATED AS PRECAUTION WHILE RUPTURED PIPES ARE FIXED
HOMES were evacuated after a car crashed through a wooden fence and into a gas sub-station, rupturing pipes, writes Dan Martin.
The driver had left the scene, in Rothley, when police arrived shortly after 6.30am yesterday, but they later arrested a 33-year-old man.
Police and firefighters helped gas company staff deal with the aftermath, with paramedics on stand-by in case of explosion and injuries.
POLICE have arrested a 33-year-old man after a car crashed into a gas sub-station, forcing the evacuation of nearby homes.
The collision ruptured a gas pipe which resulted in emergency services throwing up a wide cordon while they dealt with the incident in The Ridings, Rothley, yesterday morning.
The car crashed through a wooden fence and into the roadside kiosk at about 6.30am and a loud rushing sound could be heard as gas escaped.
By the time police arrived, the driver of the black Peugeot had left the area. But officers confirmed they had made an arrest yesterday afternoon.
There was a huge 999 presence through the morning as police and firefighters helped workers from gas company Cadent deal with the aftermath. Paramedics were on stand-by in case there was an explosion and injuries.
A police spokeswoman said the arrested man was being questioned yesterday.
She said a small number of nearby properties were evacuated as a precaution and people living locally were asked to stay indoors with their windows closed.
A Cadent spokesman said the damaged station was used to regulate gas pressures and that “multi
ple” homes had their supplies cut off.
He said: “Gas was escaping into the air, but our engineers stopped that. The location is at least 100 metres from the nearest property, so people should not have been worried about their safety.”
He thanked the emergency services for their assistance and said it was expected full repairs would likely be completed by yesterday evening, with supplies restored.
One nearby resident said: “It was quite an unexpected start to the new year.
“There have always been concerns about that substation being right on that T-junction, should a vehicle fail to stop.
“People thought that wooden fence would never stop a collision and it hasn’t.
“It needs either bollards to protect it or, even better, moving altogether.”
Anyone with information about the incident can contact police on 101.