A wrong-way driver speeding southbound in northbound lanes of Highway 360 struck a natural gas pipeline causing a large fire in Mansfield early Wednesday, briefly forcing residents of nearby homes to evacuate, authorities said.
The Mansfield Fire Department said it happened at about 1 a.m. near an Exxon service station located at the intersection of Texas 360 and U.S. 287.
Flames could be seen shooting into the air, making the fire visible from even 20 miles away.
The fire appeared to be extinguished shortly after 3:30 a.m.
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'The Mansfield Police Department received a call from Grand Prairie Dispatch about a wrong way driver traveling at a high rate of speed southbound in the northbound lanes of Highway 360 at Ragland Road,' according to a press release issued by Mansfield police Wednesday afternoon.
The driver left the roadway as they approached the U.S. 287 southbound service road and struck a 36-inch natural gas pipeline located 125 feet off the roadway, above-ground next to an Exxon service station, according to police.
The driver was flown by air ambulance to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas for 'significant' burn injuries.
Team Coverage: Natural Gas Fire in Mansfield
People living within a 1-mile radius of the incident were asked to evacuate to nearby Annette Perry Elementary School as well as to a nearby hospital parking lot, fire officials said.
Resident Ken Carcich and his family are among those who fled their home.
“A lot of us in the neighborhood have been talking that something like this could happen where the gas wells are and nothing stopping anyone from getting to them,” he said.
Pipelines with little protection aren’t their only concern, he said.
Several residents tell NBC 5 there are constant problems at the intersection down the road from the scene of the fire where 360 abruptly ends and their subdivision begins.
“People cross [intersection with Hwy 287] going 70, thinking they’re still on 360 and then they fly off the road. They end up in the ditch, the pond or the roundabout,” said neighbor Brian Aurelio.
Neighbors said they’ve complained to the city about safety concerns.
NBC 5 requested information about the number of crashes in the area, including at the intersection of 360 and 287.
A spokesperson for the city of Mansfield directed NBC 5 to file an open records request for the data.
Residents say flashing lights may help alert drivers that 360 is coming to an end.
The city says any changes or improvements to either highway would come from TxDOT which manages both.
Anxious residents also say adding guardrails or wall barriers to large natural gas pipelines might help avoid another disaster.
Video taken by Mansfield resident Whitney Hagerty from her backyard showed giant flames just a short distance from her home.
Her husband, Zachery, told NBC 5 they were woken up by the glow of the fire.
"My wife actually woke me up. As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw just bright orange in the room and a vibrating of the house. I could feel the house shaking," he said. "I looked out the window and saw flames about 40 or 50 feet in the air. It was very, very disturbing to see it this close to the house."
The family was quickly evacuated as firefighters went door to door urging people to leave their homes.
By 4 a.m., residents who evacuated were allowed to return home.
"It was definitely a very frightening situation. My wife even mentioned, 'Is God is coming back?' Because she thought it was the rapture, it literally sounded like a space shuttle taking off," described Zachery.
The incident forced authorities to close U.S. 287 and Texas 360 for several hours. All lanes have since reopened, though some side streets remained closed.
In a statement to NBC 5, Atmos Energy said natural gas to the area was isolated while repairs are made.
NBC 5's Alanna Quillen contributed to this report.
