North Fresno crash causes ‘very dangerous’ gas leak, police say

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Multiple blocks in north Fresno are being closed off after a crash into a building caused a major gas leak in the area, the Fresno Police Department announced Sunday evening.

Around 8:30 p.m., officers responded to a report of a vehicle that crashed near Ingram and Fallbrook avenues and a driver who fled on foot.

Officers arrived to the strong smell of natural gas and soon learned the vehicle took out a nearby gas meter and caused significant damage to the feeding pipe beneath the ground.

Due to the gas leak, PG&E and the fire department are asking officers to close off at least five city blocks. The public is asked to avoid the area for their safety.

“It’s so much that we’re having our officers walk people in. And because of [the gas leak] we can’t use our normal road flares that we use to cut off streets, because obviously that would ignite the gas. It’s actually a very dangerous situation,” said Lieutenant Alfonso Castillo.

Officers add the building that was struck sustained significant structural damage.

Investigators say the driver was taken into custody after being found hiding in bushes nearby. He is being evaluated to determine what caused him to lose control.

Police report the closures will remain in place for the next couple of hours.