COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) - A 50-year-old Richland man faces charges of driving under the influence and texting while driving after his truck hit a natural gas meter at a rural Colfax County residence, prompting an early morning evacuation of the area.
The Columbus Telegram reports (https://bit.ly/1iOZJYF) that the man hit the Black Hills Energy gas line east of Columbus in eastern Nebraska around 2:45 a.m. Friday.
The punctured gas line began to leak, forcing the evacuation of nearby residences about 45 minutes later, who were not allowed to return until after 8 a.m.
The Colfax County Sheriff’s Office says the driver admitted he was texting an ex-girlfriend when the crash happened. A breath test showed his blood alcohol level at .128, well above the .08 driving limit.
The driver was not injured.
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Information from: Columbus Telegram, https://www.columbustelegram.com
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