Car crash ruptures gas line, closing highway for nearly 5 hours

A pickup truck driven by a 19-year-old woman ran off the road and struck a natural gas line on the Auburn Enumclaw Highway two miles east of Auburn at about 4:20 a.m. Wednesday, rupturing the line and closing the busy corridor between Southeast 300th Street and Southeast 400th Street for nearly five hours.

A pickup truck driven by a 19-year-old woman ran off the road and struck a natural gas line on the Auburn Enumclaw Highway two miles east of Auburn at about 4:20 a.m. Wednesday, rupturing the line and closing the busy corridor between Southeast 300th Street and Southeast 400th Street for nearly five hours.

Authorities evacuated six people from two homes, but said the gas leak did not pose any health risks.

The driver, a 19-year-old woman, suffered minor head injuries and police arrested her for driving under the influence. Two of her three passengers fled the scene after the accident.

Crews repaired the leak and reopened the highway at 9:30 a.m.