VALDOSTA —
Valdosta State University Police closed off a section of the campus’ Oak Street parking lot Friday morning as maintenance crews and emergency personnel worked to secure a ruptured gas line in the lot.
A vehicle operated by a student worker struck the natural gas line around 10:50 a.m. on Friday, according to VSU communication officer Thressea Boyd. The gas line supplied a backup generator to the parking deck, said Boyd, so the rupture disrupted none of the facility’s services.
The student worker was dropping off a cargo trailer in the grassy corner of the lot next to the parking deck when the trailer brushed against the backup generator’s gas line, said Boyd.
VSU’s Auxiliary Services staff were immediately evacuated from their offices inside the Oak Street Parking deck, according to Boyd. She said the university contacted Atlanta Gas Light and VSU Plant Operations just a few moments later.
Fire Engine One of the Valdosta Fire department kept a watchful eye on the incident until the line was shut off.
The damaged line was closed around 11:20 a.m., roughly half an hour after the rupture occurred, and then the blockaded area of the lot was reopened to through traffic, according to officials on the scene.
Boyd said the gas line would remain off until Plant Operations has fully repaired it and Atlanta Gas Light field technicians have approved the repairs.
Note: Natural gas is generally infused with mercaptan to add odor to the volatile gas, according to Atlanta Gas Light.
If you smell “rotten eggs” near a gas line, evacuate the area immediately. Atlanta Gas Light says to avoid the use of electronics and incendiary devices, and to call in the incident as soon as you are a safe distance away.
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