Fatal crash into house, gas leak, mass evacuation

Thousands of residents in Clay County are being allowed back into their homes after a mile square area was evacuated following a car crash that caused a gas leak.

Shortly before 1 am Thursday police received reports of a vehicle traveling at high speeds. 

Just as officers were heading out to try to locate the vehicle, they received another report of a horrific crash at Murphy Avenue and Nellys Lane.

Police say the car struck a utility pole, and careened into a house on the southeast corner of the intersection. 

The driver, a Clay County resident,  was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The people who live in the house were not injured.

The crash broke off the gas meter to the house and gas began spewing into the neighborhood.

Vectran crews were called to dig up the gas line and shut it off.

Indiana State Police assisted local authorities with evacuating a one mile radius around the crash which included the south east section of Brazil. 

Thousands of residents were told to evacuate and were not allowed to return until shortly after 5:30 am.

Two school buses were brought in to help evacuate residents of the Exceptional Living Center nursing home.

Evacuation centers were set up at a couple of schools, the Brazil Armory and the Nazarene Church.

Once the gas was shut off and the air determined to be clear, residents were allowed to return to their homes.