An O’Fallon city employee was mowing along West Terra Lane when he clipped a gas main Tuesday morning. Deputy Chief Randy Sanders of the O'Fallon Fire Protection District, said the mower operator was working on the north side of West Terra near Hoff Road when he struck a gas main at about 10 a.m. Witnesses say they could hear the hissing of the escaping gas could be heard from far away.

O'Fallon police and firefighters had their hands full clearing the immediate area and evacuated 13 commercial buildings near the leak. They also stopped a westbound freight train before it could reach the leak site. They feared a spark could trigger a fire or an explosion. By noon, only two buildings were still evacuated, Sanders said, and the leak was under control. Laclede Gas says no one lost gas service while repairs were made and there were no injuries.