PLYMOUTH COUNTY BLAST INJURES TWO

TWO PEOPLE WERE INJURED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AFTER THEIR TRENCHING MACHINE HIT A GAS LINE IN RURAL PLYMOUTH COUNTY, CREATING AN EXPLOSION AND MASSIVE FIREBALL.

PLYMOUTH COUNTY SHERIFF MIKE VAN OTTERLOO SAYS THE INCIDENT HAPPENED JUST BEFORE 2PM ABOUT 14 MILES SOUTH OF LE MARS IN A FIELD OFF MARBLE AVENUE:

SHERIFF VAN OTTERLOO SAYS THE HEAT WAS SO INTENSE THAT CREWS AT FIRST COULD NOT GET CLOSE TO THE FIRE. HE SAYS IT'S FORTUNATE THE BLAST TOOK PLACE AWAY FROM ANY POPULATED AREA:

UTILITY AND FIRE CREWS WERE ABLE TO SHUT DOWN THE GAS LINE AND CONTAIN THE BLAZE IN AROUND AN HOUR.

WITNESSES SAY THE BLAST CREATED A HUGE FIREBALL AND FLAMES AND SMOKE WERE VISIBLE FROM OVER TWO MILES AWAY.