NORTHWESTERN CORPORATION
gas_distribution Incident — GRAND ISLAND, NE — March 9, 2017
Incident Information
| Incident Date | March 9, 2017 |
| Operator | NORTHWESTERN CORPORATION |
| Commodity | NATURAL GAS |
| Pipeline Type | gas_distribution |
Location
| City | GRAND ISLAND |
| State | NE |
| County | HALL |
| Coordinates | 40.90033, -98.33973 |
Cause
| Cause | OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE |
| Subcause | "DAMAGE BY CAR, TRUCK, OR OTHER MOTORIZED VEHICLE/EQUIPMENT NOT ENGAGED IN EXCAVATION" |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 1 |
Costs
| Property Damage | $2,500 |
| Emergency Response | $200 |
| Other Costs | $0 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
"A THIRD PARTY VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING SOUTH BOUND ON A ROAD BEHIND SONIC DRIVE IN AT 2117 SOUTH LOCUST STREET IN GRAND ISLAND NE. THE VEHICLE JUMPED THE MEDIAN AND CONTINUED UNTIL THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE BUILDING. BEFORE STRIKING THE BUILDING THE VEHICLE STRUCK AND BROKE A NATURAL METER SET AT THIS LOCATION AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THIS WAS ON A 1.1 M ROOTS METER SET AND IT BROKE OFF THE 3/4"" PIPING BELOW THE LOCK WING. THE GAS CAUGHT FIRE AND HELPED FUEL THE FLAME UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED IT. NORTHWESTERN ENERGY PERSONNEL INSERTED A RUBBER PLUG AND STOPPED THE FLOW OF GAS. THE GAS BLEW FOR 30 MINUTES AT APPROXIMATELY 28 PSI. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 2:11 AM MARCH 9 2017. AS INDICATED BY THE POLICE REPORT THE INDIVIDUAL WAS TRANSPORTED VIA POLICE CAR TO A MEDICAL FACILITY. UNSURE IF THIS WAS FOR AN INJURY OR SUBSTANCE TESTING. POLICE REPORT INDICATES AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THE DRIVER HAD A BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL OF .081. INCIDENT WAS REPORTED DUE TO THE OWNER OF SONIC DRIVE IN INITIAL ASSESSMENT FOLLOWING THE FIRE THAT REPAIRS WILL EXCEED $50,000. FOLLOW UP CALL ON MARCH 21 2017 WITH THE OWNER OF SONIC -- STILL BELIEVED REPAIRS WOULD EXCEED $50,000."
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.