Managing editor
Disaster was averted Thursday afternoon, thanks to alert children.
It all began when children playing near the alley between Melvin and Highland streets heard a hissing noise. Authorities were alerted and determined a natural gas meter was broken, allowing gas to escape.
Marion police and sheriff’s deputies alerted nearby residents, Jerry Vinduska’s dental office, and St. Luke Hospital to keep people indoors until an Atmos Energy worker could plug the leak.
Police Chief Josh Whitwell thinks a vehicle struck the meter around 1 p.m. Thursday, without the driver knowing.
By 3 p.m., Stacey Collett of Atmos Energy was on the scene, stopping the leak. He also replaced the damaged meter.
“If this would have gone undetected for several more hours, it’s hard telling what would have happened,” Whitwell said.