JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Crews from TECO People Gas are still working Sunday to get natural gas service restored to residents in Northwest Jacksonville, where a driver crashed a car through a fence and into a gas line Friday, causing it to leak. Police said the driver ran from the scene before police arrived.
Authorities said the hit-and-run crash, which happened about 7 p.m. at Charles Clark Park on Sibbald Road, forced many people in the area to go without gas to heat hot water heaters or operate gas-powered stoves.
"Someone hit a large gas line and potentially some electrical boxes," Sheriff's Office Lt. J.M. Paris said.
As Jacksonville Fire Rescue personnel worked to repair the gas leak Friday, residents in the area were evacuated and Sibbald Road was closed from Fredericksburg Avenue to Soutel Drive. Archery Avenue was also blocked off for nearly two hours.
At last check, 94 percent of the affected residents had their gas back.
By Sunday, crews said they had built a new layer of protection around the gas line just in case someone runs into it again.
A woman told News4Jax that she and her neighbors have been taking cold showers since the leak occurred.
Kimberly White said she's just thankful that there wasn't an explosion.
It's really close to home. (it'll) give you something to think about, because if they hadn't got out here in time and it would've exploded, it could've been really bad," White said. "I just thank God nothing else happened."
TECO said everyone affected by the leak should have gas restored by the end of Sunday night.
There was no word whether the driver has been found. Authorities said the driver could face hit-and-run charges.