A routine Wednesday in Parker turned tense when a vehicle plowed into a building at South Chambers Road and East Main Street, rupturing a gas line and triggering a shelter-in-place order for nearby neighborhoods.
Emergency crews swarmed the scene and shut down Chambers Road between Main Street and Cosmopolitan Circle while hazmat and fire teams moved in to cap the leak and make sure the surrounding area did not go from scary to catastrophic.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office issued a shelter-in-place order for roughly a half-mile radius centered on 10759 Tomboy Drive. That zone covered parts of Newlin Crossing, Sierra Ridge, and Meridian Village. Residents were urged to “stay inside with windows closed, turn off heating and cooling systems and avoid activities that could cause a spark or create electricity,” according to The Denver Post.
Road Closures And Emergency Response
Parker Police said the crash happened at South Chambers Road and East Main Street, and that Chambers Road was closed between Main Street and Cosmopolitan Circle while first responders worked the scene. Traffic in the area was forced to detour as crews set up a safety perimeter.
South Metro Fire Rescue confirmed that the vehicle hit the building and snapped a gas line, and hazmat-trained units stayed on site to keep tabs on the leak and manage the gas hazard. Both the Parker Police Department and South Metro Fire Rescue continued to push out information for first responders and partner agencies as the response unfolded.
Safety Steps And What Comes Next
Officials said the shelter-in-place order would stay in effect until utility crews could fully secure the ruptured line and the scene was declared safe, and that they would lift the restrictions once that happened, according to The Denver Post.
Residents who want tightly targeted emergency alerts going forward can sign up for DougCoAlerts through county channels. The signup link is available on Douglas County.
Authorities had not released any additional details about possible injuries or information on the vehicle’s occupants. This story will be updated as agencies post follow-up notices and once the shelter-in-place order is lifted.
