Natural Gas Smell Prompts Evacuations In Murrysville
MURRYSVILLE (KDKA) – Dozens of people, including many middle school students, were taken to the hospital Wednesday following a gas leak in the Murrysville area.
The initial reports came in just before 10 a.m. By mid-morning it became clear, something bad was in the air in and around Murrysville.
"About 9:30 this morning, 911 received multiple calls of what was described as a natural gas leak or smell in several businesses on [U.S. Route] 22," Murrysvile Police Chief Thomas Seefeld said.
The leak also affected several buildings in the Franklin Regional School District; it mainly affected the middle schoolers.
A total of 49 students and one teacher were transported, mostly with headaches and general illness. An additional 10 patients were transported from the municipality.
"There was a real strong smell of sulfur and gas. It gave me a headache," Goodwill store employee Ryan Vietmeier said.
Vietmeier and many others were nearly overcome and self-evacuated before it was too late.
"When you walked in the back, you smelled it," Goodwill store employee Bill Dulaney said.
"At this time, it's unknown, the source," Seefeld said.
Heavy winds were not helping the effort to find the leak. By early afternoon, building after building began to get the all-clear.
"These are the things we do practice for," Franklin Regional superintendent Gennaro Piraino said. "We hope to never have to institute these types of measures, but today our school community responded appropriately."
None of those affected by the gas leak are suffering from any life-threatening ailments as a result. Meanwhile, the investigation into the source of the leak is ongoing.
The Franklin Regional School District issued the following statement on its website:
"The fire department has cleared Franklin Regional Middle School for the safe re-entry of all students and staff. Students are being fed lunch at FR Senior High School first, then will proceed back to their building to continue the school day. All FR buildings have been cleared and deemed safe by the fire department for students and staff."
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