Crews responded to a major gas leak after an excavator struck a gas line in Hollywood on Friday, closing a stretch of the Florida’s Turnpike for several hours, officials said.
The incident happened shortly before 11 a.m. in the area of N. 62nd Avenue and Arthur Street when a main gas line running the length of the Turnpike was struck by an excavator, Hollywood Fire Rescue officials said.
Officials said it caused a major gas leak and led to the closure of the northbound lanes of the Turnpike Turnpike from Hollywood Boulevard to Griffin Road.
The Turnpike was reopened a few hours later.
Officials said the natural gas line runs from South Florida to Texas.
Aerial footage from Chopper 6 showed the excavator at the scene as gas and dust billowed into the air.
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Crews were responding to a major gas leak after an excavator struck a gas line in Hollywood on Friday, officials said.
Officials said they were waiting for the gas provider to arrive and begin repairs.
Some people who live nearby including residents of an elder facility were evacuated as a precaution, officials said.
No other information was immediately available.
Check back with NBC6 for updates.