Accident forces school closure

3/6/2013

By The Hays Daily news

A vehicle struck a gas main that supplies Roosevelt Elementary School, 2000 MacArthur Road, overnight, forcing its closure for today, USD 489 Superintendent Will Roth said this morning.

"A car ran into the gas meter near 22nd Street, broke off the gas line there," Roth said.

The Hays Police Department reported a 26-year-old woman was driving the car, became distracted and went off the road, striking a meter on the school proeprty. Three juveniles also were in the vehicle. No names have been released, and no injuries were reported.

Roth said Midwest Energy shut off gas to the school.

"We don't have any gas there today, so we wouldn't have any heat or any cooking or anything else, so we just closed school for today," Roth said.

Roth was unsure if school would reopen Thursday at Roosevelt, although a Midwest spokesman said he expected work to be completed today.

Despite preliminary reports, there was no underground leak and the pipe did not break off underground, said Midwest's Mike Morley.

Crews today were replacing a riser that connects the gas main to the meter, as well as replacing the barrier that was crumpled in the accident.