Cleanup Continues Following Murrysville Gas Line Rupture

POSTED: 6:14 pm EST November 26, 2008
UPDATED: 6:39 pm EST November 26, 2008

MURRYSVILLE, Pa. -- The tables were empty at Atria's Restaurant & Tavern along Route 22 in Murrysville, Westmoreland County, on Wednesday as outdoor Christmas decorations were being thrown away as inspectors checked the air quality.

It was all the aftermath following a geyser of gasoline that coated the roof of the restaurant and dozens of cars in the parking lot.

Fearful of an explosion, crews turned off the power, including the supply to refrigeration.

"The food we are looking at, roughly about everything in the restaurant being gone -- almost the entire list of the restaurant being gone," said Larry Bates.

Gasoline rained down on the cars of nearly a dozen employees, destroying the rubber and leaving a terrible odor.

"I had to drive home with the windows down in my car because it smelled so bad of gas and you can't drive with the windows down in this weather," said chef Rick Holzer.

Employees were given claim numbers for rental cars, but Sunoco Logistics, who owns the line that ruptured, said they aren't sure how they'll assist them with repairs.

Sunoco is paying for air quality inspectors and the clean up.

There has been no word of what caused the valve to rupture, spilling an estimated 4,700 gallons of gas into Turtle Creek.

Sunoco Logistics said a two man crew was replacing a valve when it cracked.

"I walked three miles of the stream yesterday and it was a complete kill. There was product the entire length," said Fred Baldassare of the Department of Environmental Protection.

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