Pennsylvania Gas Line Explosion Levels Vacant Building, Injures 4

A backhoe operator hit a gas line Wednesday, causing an explosion that leveled a vacant restaurant building and injured at least four people.

Work was being done on curbs and sidewalks in the area. Cogan said workers were behind a dump truck, which shielded them from flying debris.

Three people were taken by ambulances to a hospital and released, said Hummelstown Fire Chief Charlie Cogan. A fourth arrived at a hospital by private vehicle, said Cogan, who believed that person only had minor injuries.

The blaze took well over two hours to extinguish once the gas was turned off, Cogan said. Some nearby buildings were damaged by the blast, but no other fires were reported.

A fire marshal was to return Thursday to finish the investigation, Cogan said.

Hummelstown is 85 miles northwest of Philadelphia.