HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The Fire Department responded yesterday to 23rd and Brentwood area for a vehicle accident.

The initial arriving unit found an abandoned vehicle that had appeared to have lost control on Brentwood in turn striking a gas meter as well as a nearby light pole.

An additional fire unit was requested to assist in monitoring the area due to the gas leak and assist with elderly residents in nearby care facilities.

Although no evacuations were required due to wind speeds dissipating the natural gas, residents within one care facility were moved to the east wing due to odors within the facility.

Both facilities and the immediate area were monitored by the fire department as well as Kansas Gas Service, both reporting negative readings for gas presence.

The gas company had to dig west of the property to locate and secure the gas line prior to the meter repair with an overall time frame of 3 hours for the service to be returned to affected customers. Westar addressed the light pole immediately following the gas line being secured.

Twenty four-year-old Jonatan J. Jaquez of 1206 East 26th was cited for failing to report an accident and inattentive driving for that incident. He fled the scene, but was later located.