A man was killed this week in Nebraska when he drove through an anhydrous ammonia gas leak. The pipeline is owned by Tulsa-based Magellan Midstream Partners and the company is investigating.
The Monday night incident happened on an 8-inch pipeline in a rural area north of the town of Tekamah which is about 40 miles from Omaha.
A 911 caller to the Burt County Sheriff’s office said help was needed for a motorist. Deputies and firefighters arrived and moved the man to safe area but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim was identified as Phillip Hennig, 59, of Tekamah.
About 40 people who live in nearly two dozen homes in the area of the leak were evacuated.
Magellan officials in Tulsa are investigating. KETV reported that Magellan representatives were on the scene on Tuesday.
“We express our deepest sympathies over the tragic death of the local resident,” said Mike Mears, Magellan’s chief executive officer.
The pipeline originates in Texas and ends in Minnesota.