Multiple agencies respond to West Chicago crash, natural gas leak

A vehicle crashed into a West Chicago office building and triggered a natural gas leak when it damaged several gas meters, officials said Sunday.

The West Chicago Fire District responded at 11:22 a.m. to a reported traffic accident in the 1500 block of Kautz Road. When the first fire company arrived, crews found a vehicle had driven into the office building. Firefighters reported the impact had sheared off all six natural gas meters serving one end of the building.

Fire officials said the driver escaped from the vehicle and was found walking away from the building. The driver was treated by paramedics and taken to Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield.

Officials said a substantial amount of natural gas seeped from the damaged gas pipes and filled the building with combustible vapors. Emergency crews from NICOR were requested because there was significant concern the vapors potentially could result in an explosion, officials said.

Fire department crews used an unmanned water stream to disperse the large flow of gas and to prevent it from igniting.

Crews from ComEd also were requested to shut off electrical power to the building as a precaution.

Once the flow of gas had been stopped, a large ventilation fan vehicle was provided by the statewide fire department mutual aid organization, MABAS. After the building was ventilated, fire companies searched it and used air monitors to check for any areas of combustible gas.

Firefighters were on the scene until about 4 p.m. when the building was turned over to the property owners for repairs and cleanup.

The cause of the accident is under investigation by the West Chicago Police Department.