Tractor digging near Monterey home strikes gas line, leads to huge leak

UPDATE: 2.28.15 11:44 p.m.

Pacific, Gas & Electric crews will be working into the night to repair a gas line that leaked Saturday morning.

PG&E said a third-party contractor was using a tractor and digging near a home on Viejo Road in Monterey when he struck a 10-inch transmission line.

The leak led to the evacuation of six homes in the area, the shut down of part of Highway 1 and caused a major traffic jam, according to PG&E and CAL Fire.

After crews shut the gas off, residents were allowed back in around 4:30 p.m. Saturday. PG&E said residents should conserve natural gas-powered heating systems to ensure the area can be heated throughout the night.

Any time you are about to dig, make sure you call 811 beforehand, PG&E said. 811 is a free service that calls out a PG&E crew to mark underground utility lines so they won’t be punctured during construction.

No injuries were reported as a result of the leak, CAL Fire said.

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office is investigating this situation.

EARLIER VERSION 2.28.15 at 1:00 p.m.

The California Highway Patrol has closed part of Highway 1 in the Monterey, Carmel-By-The-Sea area Saturday due to a gas leak, CHP said.

Northbound Highway 1 at Highway 68 near Aguajito Road in Carmel-by the Sea and southbound Highway 1 near the Munras Avenue exit in Monterey is closed, CHP said.

This article will be updated as more information becomes available.