Cleveland (WRCB) - Scary moments at Signature Health Care in Cleveland Friday afternoon.
A car jumped a curb, crashed through a five foot retaining wall and struck the gas meter, which ruptured a gas line and caused a serious natural gas leak.
Bradley County EMS was on the scene having just transported a patient to the nursing facility.
When the EMT's reached the vehicle natural gas was spewing from the ground, backup was then called.
At first EMT's were unable to get the passengers out of the car due to the damage. When help arrived they were able to free the 65 year old male passenger. He had inhaled a large amount of the natural gas and was taken to the hospital in stable condition. The female driver was not injured.
The gas leak now compromised the safety of the nursing home residents. A possible evacuation was coordinated between EMS officials and Signature Health Care staff. If the need to evacuate arose residents would be taken temporarily to Cleveland High School and Cleveland Middle School.
The Chattanooga Gas Company was able to cut off the gas at the street cut off valve making the need for a complete evacuation unnecessary. The facility was cleared of any fumes and no other injuries were reported.
