PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. (WSVN) — A gas leak prompted an evacuation in Pembroke Pines, Wednesday morning.
A construction crew struck the natural gas line along Pines Boulevard and University Drive. The gas company was able to cap the leak just before 12:30 p.m.
But sections of University Drive and Pines Boulevard were shut down due to the leak and several businesses at nearby plazas evacuated dozens of their employees as a precaution. Officials warned them even starting their cars could be dangerous. “They were screaming, ‘Don’t turn on the cars, don’t turn on your cars!’ and then it got worse and worse as we had to leave this perimeter, and then they started evacuating all the stores,” said Debbie Charnin who evacuated her business.
Another woman in the area also experienced the effects of the gas leak before evacuating. “It’s crazy, I passed out,” said Jane Carswell. “I was just dizzy, coughing, couldn’t breathe.”
Only the westbound and eastbound lanes of Pines Boulevard were open for traffic. The northbound and southbound lanes remained shut down on University Drive as crews worked to seal the leak.
Officials were on the scene diverting southbound University Drive traffic from Johnson Road to Pembroke Road. All traffic has since returned to normal.