More than 700 residents in Carroll and Tuscarawas counties are without natural gas service after a one-vehicle crash near Atwood Lake ruptured a pipeline facility and sparked a fire Monday afternoon, authorities said.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol said the crash occurred about 1:40 p.m. on State Route 212 near milepost 17 and the Atwood Lake spillway in Tuscarawas County. A white 2007 Jeep Wrangler driven by a 44-year-old Scio woman went off the right side of the road and hit a gas-line pumphouse, rupturing lines inside the building. The Jeep caught fire and the blaze spread to the structure, scorching the surrounding area. The driver suffered minor injuries and was taken by Smith Ambulance to Union Hospital.
Enbridge Gas representatives at the scene located a shutoff valve and stopped the flow feeding the blaze. Northeast Ohio Gas (NEO), which services the line, also assisted in containing the leak, officials said.
NEO estimates roughly 700 to 750 customers are affected in Mineral City, Sherrodsville, Dellroy and smaller pockets of New Philadelphia and Roswell. The company has established a command center at the Dellroy Community Center, and additional crews are assisting with restoration work.
“We’re working through individual meter shutoffs and beginning the restoration process, but we don’t have an estimated time yet,” said Christine Mitchell, a spokesperson for NEO, in a phone call with Jordan Miller News. She said the situation is safe and there is no danger to the community. The company said it expects to provide an update on service restoration soon but could not give a timeline.
Carroll County Emergency Management Agency Director Tom Cottis said local officials are coordinating with state partners and utility crews to reach the largest number of customers as quickly as possible.
The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) handled road closures and traffic control following the crash. Assisting at the scene were the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office, Fairfield Township Fire Department, Sherrodsville Fire Department, Enbridge Gas, Northeast Ohio Gas and Keith’s Towing.
The crash remains under investigation by the Highway Patrol.
