Homeowner inadvertently cuts gas line

As Ernest Corbin Jr. of 2053 Big Bend Road in Cape Girardeau was digging Saturday afternoon in his yard to fix a water line, he accidentally hit the gas line.

Last Saturday, Dig Rite marked the water and gas lines, but as Corbin dug, he realized the marks were off by a few feet.

Corbin called AmerenUE who called the Cape Girardeau Fire Department. The fire department called the Cape Girardeau Police Department to assist with traffic. Traffic was backed up for only about 15 minutes.

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department crimped the gas line and turned the gas off.

They then turned the situation over to Kelly Allen with the East County Fire Department and AmerenUE.

A representative from AmerenUE fixed the gas line.