DTE GAS COMPANY
gas_transmission Incident — — May 21, 2013
Incident Information
| Incident Date | May 21, 2013 |
| Operator | DTE GAS COMPANY |
| Commodity | NATURAL GAS |
| Pipeline Type | gas_transmission |
Location
| State | |
| Coordinates | 43.54006, -85.28436 |
Cause
| Cause | OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE |
| Subcause | DAMAGE BY CAR, TRUCK, OR OTHER MOTORIZED VEHICLE/EQUIPMENT NOT ENGAGED IN EXCAVATION |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
Costs
| Property Damage | $119,000 |
| Emergency Response | $1,000 |
| Other Costs | $0 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
THE DRIVER OF A PICK-UP TRUCK SUFFERED AN APPARENT MEDICAL CONDITION AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING IT TO LEAVE THE WESTBOUND ROADWAY OF 5 MILE ROAD. THE VEHICLE CROSSED 100TH AVENUE, CONTINUING WESTERLY AND CRASHING THROUGH THE GATE SURROUNDING THE HINTON 5 METER/SEPARATOR ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE CROSSED THROUGH THE STATION YARD AND STRUCK THE SEPARATOR PIPING, CRACKING THE 2-INCH STEEL PIPE FROM THE SEPARATOR, STARTING A LEAK AT APPROXIMATELY 500 PSIG. THE DRIVER APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN DECEASED PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE STRIKING THE SEPARATOR PIPING. LEAKING GAS DID NOT IGNITE, AND THERE WERE NO OTHER INJURIES. DTE GAS PERSONNEL WERE ABLE TO CLOSE VALVES AT THE SITE AND THE LEAKING GAS WAS STOPPED WITHOUT FURTHER DAMAGE. THE WRECKAGE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE DESTROYED METER/SEPARATOR PIPING WERE REMOVED, AND THE FACILITY REMAINS OUT OF SERVICE. DISCUSSIONS ARE UNDERWAY BETWEEN THE GAS PRODUCER AND DTE GAS AS TO WHETHER THIS FACILITY IS EVEN REQUIRED TO BE REPLACED AND REACTIVATED.
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.