U.S. DIGEST

By FROM NEWS SERVICES

11/09/2004

IVEL, Ky.

Gas line explosion injures 9, burns houses A gas line exploded Monday in rural eastern Kentucky, burning four houses and injuring nine people, including an off-duty state trooper who helped rescue a woman and child, officials said.

Trooper Rick Conn suffered third-degree burns and was hospitalized Monday.

State police said Conn was heading to work when he smelled gas from a 4-inch line that leads to a processing plant. The subsequent blast blew out windows in his cruiser, but Conn kept driving toward burning homes.

"He heard a call for help and pulled a woman and small child out and then collapsed," said Sgt. Phil Crumpton. Conn suffered burns on his face, neck, chest and hands, he said.

State officials said the high-pressure gas line belonged to Kentucky-West Virginia Gas Co., and was operated and maintained by Mark West Hydrocarbon Inc. in Colorado.

Source: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/nation/story/1F322528FBAF9A8786256F4700179FA5?OpenDocument&Headline=U.S.+DIGEST&highlight=2%2CIvel%2CKY (November 9, 2004)