Gas Leak Causes Concern for Independence Residents

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — A gas leak is under control after it sent gas spewing into the air for a short time Thursday morning, closing traffic to 23rd Street in Independence, Mo.

According to Missouri Gas and Energy, a private contractor laying conduits hit a one-and-a-half inch gas pipe, causing gas to spew steadily into the air in the area of 23rd Street between Crysler Avenue and Noland Road.

Rusty Hames, incident management coordinator with KC Scout, said no homes, schools or businesses were evacuated. In addition, gas service was not interrupted.

A firefighter on the scene monitored the air quality and determined there was no immediate threat. Hames said wind assisted in keeping conditions safe.

“We haven’t had any problems with gas accumulating and the wind’s in our favor, so everything’s okay right now,” he said.

West 23rd Street in Independence has since reopened. No one was injured in the incident.