PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC CO
gas_distribution Incident — MERCED, CA — May 14, 2014
Incident Information
| Incident Date | May 14, 2014 |
| Operator | PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC CO |
| Commodity | NATURAL GAS |
| Pipeline Type | gas_distribution |
Location
| City | MERCED |
| State | CA |
| County | MERCED |
| Coordinates | 37.31574, -120.47631 |
Cause
| Cause | OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE |
| Subcause | "DAMAGE BY CAR, TRUCK, OR OTHER MOTORIZED VEHICLE/EQUIPMENT NOT ENGAGED IN EXCAVATION" |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 2 |
| Injuries | 0 |
Costs
| Property Damage | $3,000 |
| Emergency Response | $0 |
| Other Costs | $0 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
"TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, A VEHICLE LEFT THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK A RESIDENCE AT 405 RAMBLER RD., MERCED--CAUSING SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE ALSO STRUCK PG&E GAS AND ELECTRIC FACILITIES AT 405 RAMBLER RD., MERCED. THE EVENT RESULTED IN A FIRE AND TWO FATALITIES, WHO WERE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. PG&E RECEIVED THE CALL AT 1110 HOURS AND PG&E PERSONNEL ARRIVED ON SCENE AT 1132 HOURS. PG&E REPAIR CREW ARRIVED ONSITE AT 1148 HOURS AND STOPPED THE FLOW OF GAS AT 1327 HOURS BY SQUEEZING AND CAPPING THE STEEL SERVICE. POLICE, FIRE, AMBULANCE, AND NEWS MEDIA WERE ON SCENE. THIS WAS REPORTED TO THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION (COMMISSION) AND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT) DUE TO THE FATALITIES, IGNITION (FROM THE RELEASE OF GAS FROM PG&E FACILITIES), AND MEDIA PRESENCE."
About This Pipeline Incident
Pipeline incident data is reported to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). All significant incidents involving fatalities, injuries, or property damage over $50,000 must be reported.