TOLEDO, Ohio — A car crash and gas leak temporarily delayed preparations for a high school graduation ceremony at Savage Arena on Sunday.
Toledo Fire & Rescue Department crews and HAZMAT responded to the scene on the campus of the University of Toledo shortly before 11:30 a.m. Sunday. A vehicle had lost control, gone off the road and landed on the gas utility station that supplies John F. Savage Arena on Douglas Road, TFRD Battalion Chief Mike Posadny said at the scene.
The driver, who has not been identified, was removed from the vehicle before the gas was shut off and taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
Toledo Fire was unable to shut off the gas, prompting a temporary evacuation of nearby Savage Arena. Students, staff and family members were inside the arena preparing for Bedford High School's commencement ceremony, according to Bedford Public Schools Superintendent Carl Schultz.
The leak caused Savage Arena parking lots three and four to be temporarily closed to all traffic. TFRD contacted Columbia Gas to shut off the lines while crews secured the scene in collaboration with the University of Toledo Police Department and UToledo maintenance staff.
Columbia Gas was able to shut off the lines and the all-clear was given, allowing for Bedford's commencement ceremony to begin at 2 p.m. as planned.
The extent of the damage was still being assessed Sunday afternoon. It is unclear at this time what may have caused the initial crash, which is under investigation by UTPD.
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