Vehicle Crash in Aurora Neighborhood Causes Damage and Evacuations
Aurora, CO – A vehicle crash late Sunday night resulted in significant damage to two homes and a ruptured gas line, leading to evacuations in the neighborhood. The incident occurred around 9:45 p.m. near the intersection of East 7th Avenue and Vaughn Street when an SUV, identified as a GMC Yukon, veered off the road. The vehicle struck a parked car before careening into a residence, causing severe structural damage and a gas leak from a ruptured gas meter.
Alexis Alvarez, whose family was home at the time, described the chaos, stating, "We heard this huge bang… we ran outside and saw the cars lodged into the neighbor’s house." Residents quickly noticed a hissing sound and a strong smell of gas, prompting immediate concern for safety. The driver fled the scene before police arrived.
To address the gas leak, Aurora Fire Rescue (AFR) evacuated several homes and secured the area, stabilizing the affected buildings to prevent collapse. According to Shannon Hardi of AFR, "We evacuated approximately three city blocks downwind, and one city block upwind to prevent any further risks." Hazmat teams collaborated with Xcel Energy to clamp the gas line and ensure safety.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the Alvarez family expressed gratitude that the situation wasn’t worse. Alvarez noted that reckless driving has been a recurring issue on that stretch of road, urging the city to take action to mitigate these dangers. The American Red Cross was activated to assist affected families, and the Aurora Police Department is currently investigating the incident.
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