An excavator tore into a main natural-gas line in Hollywood, Florida on Friday, unleashing a major leak that forced officials to shut down part of Florida's Turnpike and evacuate residents from the surrounding blocks. The rupture happened near North 62nd Avenue and Arthur Street, sending crews scrambling to secure the area as traffic backed up for miles.
Hollywood Fire Rescue officials said the excavator struck a main gas line in that area, according to NBC 6 South Florida, which reported the incident occurred shortly before 11 a.m. The line that was struck runs the length of Florida's Turnpike, and the break resulted in a major gas leak, as reported by CBS News Miami. The Miami Herald placed the timing slightly later, reporting the incident happened around 10:50 a.m.
Chopper 6 aerial footage captured the excavator at the scene as gas and dust billowed into the air, per NBC 6's report. Officials closed the northbound lanes of the Turnpike from Hollywood Boulevard to Griffin Road, and were waiting for the gas provider to arrive and begin repairs, the outlet added.
Conflicting Reports On How Far The Closure Stretches
Exactly how much of the Turnpike shut down depends on which report you read. The Miami Herald's account states that both directions of the highway were shut down between Hollywood Boulevard and Griffin Road. CBS News Miami, however, reported that the Florida Highway Patrol said the Turnpike had been shut down in both directions between Griffin Road and Sunrise Boulevard. What is consistent across the station's coverage is that northbound traffic was being shut down at Hollywood Boulevard while southbound traffic was being shut down at Griffin Road.
Hollywood police warned that the closure could stretch on for hours, the Miami Herald's report notes, and urged drivers to seek alternate routes, including State Road 7 and University Drive. Police also evacuated people from the immediate area as a precaution, per the same account.
Assisted Living Facility Among Buildings Cleared
The footprint of the evacuation reached beyond a handful of homes. Roughly a two-block area was being evacuated, including an assisted living facility, according to WSVN. That station reported no injuries had been documented as of its update, and said the Broward Sheriff's Office and other agencies were continuing to investigate the leak alongside Hollywood Fire Rescue.
NBC 6 said no other information was immediately available as crews worked the scene Friday and encouraged readers to check back for updates. The extent of the repair timeline, the gas provider involved, and when the Turnpike or the evacuated blocks would reopen had not been confirmed as of the latest reporting.
