An accident that ruptured a natural gas line detoured traffic around Priceville and kept the town under an alert for nearly four hours Wednesday night while repairs were being made.

“There were no injuries reported,” said Eddie Hicks, director of the Morgan County Emergency Management Office. “Fire fighters, law enforcement officers and utility workers responded quickly and had the incident under control from start to finish.

“We got a call about 5:30 p.m. and a strong smell of gas odorant was present when we arrived,” Hicks stated. “Our job was to help coordinate activities on the scene until the all-clear signal was sounded at about 9:30 p.m.”

He said the gas line was ruptured while utility workers were drilling a hole for the placement of a power pole.

An emergency siren was sounded and used to send a voice message to warn the public. Hicks said the message could be heard by people outside of their home as far away as one and one-half miles.

The mishap occurred on Highway 67 near the Wavaho station. The highway was closed at the Bethel Road and Shoal Creek Road crossings.

Assisting with the incident were Priceville police and Priceville and Somerville Area volunteer fire departments, Morgan County Sheriff’s deputies and Alabama State Troopers.