PAIUTE PIPELINE CO

Incident Narrative

ON OCTOBER 29, 2019, A SEMI-TRUCK INVOLVED IN A THREE-VEHICLE COLLISION, VEERED OFF THE ROADWAY STRIKING A PAIUTE PIPELINE ABOVE GROUND METER AND PRESSURE REGULATION FACILITY, (FALLON CITY GATE #3) LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF US HIGHWAY 50 AND SHECKLER ROAD IN FALLON, NV. THE DAMAGE TO THE FACILITY RESULTED IN AN UNINTENTIONAL RELEASE OF NATURAL GAS AND IGNITION. SUBSEQUENT TO STRIKING THE PAIUTE FACILITY THE SEMI-TRUCK IMPACTED AN EARTHEN BERM. THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. THE OCCUPANT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH COLLIDED WITH THE SEMI-TRUCK IN THE ROADWAY SUSTAINED INJURIES REQUIRING INPATIENT HOSPITALIZATION. COMPANY SCADA NETWORK TRENDS ALERTED GAS CONTROL PERSONNEL TO A POTENTIAL ISSUE AT THE FACILITY. COMPANY EMPLOYEES WERE DISPATCHED TO THE FACILITY TO INVESTIGATE AND CONFIRMED THE SCADA INFORMATION. THE INLET VALVE TO FALLON CITY GATE #3 WAS OPERATED TO CONTROL THE FLOW OF GAS AND DOWNSTREAM SERVICE WAS MAINTAINED THROUGH ADJACENT FACILITIES. SERVICE WAS TEMPORARILY RESTORED THROUGH THE EXISTING FACILITIES ON THE SAME DATE. NEW PERMANENT FACILITIES WERE PLACED IN SERVICE ON 11/02/2019. SUPPLEMENTAL: AN INVESTIGATION, LED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES, DETERMINED THAT THE NATURAL GAS OF PAIUTE PIPELINE COMPANY'S FACILITIES WAS NOT RELATED TO THE CAUSE OF DEATH OR HOSPITALIZATION OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THIS INCIDENT.