Gas line struck in east Beatrice, Monday morning

BEATRICE – Beatrice Firefighters and Police have been on the scene of a natural gas line that was struck in the east part the city, at around 8:45, Monday morning.

Excavation work was going on at 2601 Lincoln Street when a gas line was struck and punctured, sending gas into the air.

According to police, the home next to the excavation on the south side of the street was evacuated, but no other evacuations of homes apparently were needed.   Officials did shut off power to about four homes in the immediate area of the leak as a precaution.

Lincoln Street was shut down for a two-block stretch between 25^th and 27^th  Streets.   Gas escaping at high pressure from the line was clearly audible from more than a block away. 

A Black Hills Energy crew was summoned to the scene.   The line break occurred along the south edge of Lincoln Street.