Gurnee crash leads to apartment evacuation

A 24-unit Gurnee apartment building was evacuated Thursday afternoon after a man crashed a vehicle into the side of the structure, causing a natural gas leak.

Gurnee fire officials said the driver traveled off the road on the 4100 block of Tiger Lily Lane and sheered off 12 metal gas meters on the side of the building, causing a leak from the high pressure side of the gas main.

The Gurnee Fire Department responded to the incident at 3:15 p.m. Thursday afternoon and evacuated all 24-units of the building as a precaution, Tanner said.

“It was a really unique instance,” said Gurnee Battalion Chief Tim Tanner. “It was kind of a sideswipe.”

The leak was contained to the outside of the building, but residents were evacuated about an hour before Nicor personnel were able to shut off the gas line, Tanner said.

The driver of the vehicle was not injured during the accident, but the vehicle was moderately damaged, Tanner said.

Minor damage was done to the building.