A 2 a.m. crash shut down Plainwell schools and emptied homes
A single-vehicle crash in Plainwell ruptured a gas main early Monday morning, leading to school closures and the evacuation of dozens of residents.
The Plainwell Department of Public Safety said the crash occurred at approximately 2 a.m. near the intersection of Main Street and Starr Road. A 32-year-old Kalamazoo resident was driving north on Main Street when the vehicle left the roadway, according to officials. The car struck a sign and a gas main before coming to rest in a nearby riverbank.
Schools closed while crews repair damage
Plainwell Community Schools Superintendent Matt Montange confirmed that all schools were closed for the day while crews worked to repair the gas line.
"Plainwell Community Schools will have no school today (Monday, October 17) due to a gas main being hit on the corner of South Main and Starr which has caused the intersection to be blocked and a gas outage to our buildings with no timeline on a possible all clear."
The district stated that a decision regarding after-school activities would be made by noon.
Residents evacuated and cleared to return
Residents within a two-block radius of the crash site were evacuated while Michigan Gas shut down the line and repaired the damage, according to police. Officials cleared residents to return to their homes at 10 a.m.
The driver sustained only minor injuries and was treated at the scene. Authorities said alcohol was a suspected factor in the crash.
Residents who detect gassy odors after returning home were urged to contact Michigan Gas to file a report.
Multiple agencies respond
The Plainwell Department of Public Safety credited the following agencies for their assistance in the incident:
- Allegan County Sheriff’s Office
- Allegan County Emergency Management
- Otsego Police and Fire
- Plainwell EMS
- Michigan Gas
- Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office
- Brock’s Towing
- Gun Plain Fire Department