Nov. 4--OGDEN -- A natural gas leak Tuesday morning forced employees at two businesses to evacuate an area in Business Depot Ogden.

The leak was reported around 9:43 a.m. after road crews accidentally cut into the 2-inch line near 181 S. 600 West.

Police and fire crews blocked off the area and prohibited traffic along 2nd Street between 530 West and Depot Drive for more than an hour.

"Our supervisor came and warned us to get out of the building," said Justin Wright, an employee at Nutraceutical at 2nd Street and 600 West.

"As soon as we starting walking out, we started smelling it," he said. "The guys in the wood shop part of the building heard it and smelled it right away."

A loud whistling sound could be heard on a sidewalk where the employees were asked to stay while crews shut off the gas and repaired the line.

Road crews were reportedly digging up and fixing water lines along the road when someone struck the line.

The natural gas feeds the line from two directions, making it difficult to shut off, said Ogden Fire Battalion Chief Corey Barton.

Questar crews were able to turn off the valve from one source, but couldn't from another.

T h e w o r k e r s brought in a backhoe to dig deeper near the line to allow crews to eventually pinch it shut.

Employees at Nutraceutical and JDH Group across 600 West were allowed to go back into their buildings around 11:15 a.m.

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