POLICE called in helicopter support to assist with the search for the occupants of a Ford Focus which crashed into a fence in Maple Avenue, Haverfordwest, hitting a gas utility terminal.
After the collision the occupants of the car ran off, leaving the gas pipe they hit hissing.
Such was the worry about a possible gas explosion, that the accident resulted in 80 people being evacuated from their homes and taken to the Haverfordwest Leisure Centre on Sunday night (Oct 11).
The incident happened at around 9.45pm, police confirmed.
A spokesperson from Dyfed-Powys Police told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “With a strong smell of gas in the area, public safety became the primary concern and in excess of 20 properties on Beechlands Park were evacuated, with a fire and gas engineer from Wales & West Utilities required to attend the scene.
“Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service advised a 100m radius for evacuation and so in total approximately 50 houses were evacuated in the area, displacing around 80 people.
“A plan was formulated to transport the affected residents to Haverfordwest Leisure Centre and suitable PPE was sourced.
“Fortunately, the gas engineer was able to perform a temporary repair. This allowed all residents to go home safely, with agreement of police and fire service, at shortly after midnight.
“The occupants of the car had made off, so National Police Air Service was dispatched to the area to search, however no offenders were located.”
