Gas leak causes Taco Bell area to be evacuated

VERNON — A machine operator at the Taco Bell property struck and ruptured a gas main on Wednesday, causing businesses and residents in the area to evacuate for nearly 2 hours, township police said.
At about 12:05 p.m. reported the machine operator was doing excavation work. The Vernon police along with the Vernon, McAfee, Highland Lakes & Pochuck Fire Departments secured a perimeter and evacuated the area around the Taco Bell.
Emergency Personnel contained the gas leak at 12:44 p.m. An hour later, the evacuated are was declared safe for residents and business owners to return.
At 1344 hours, the evacuated area was declared to be safe for residents and business owners to return.
The area affected by the evacuation were: Route 94 — west of Baldwin Drive and east of County Highway 515; Church Street South of the Vernon Township Municipa