Gas leak in Menlo Park capped, lockdown lifted at school

MENLO PARK, Calif. -- PG&E crews have capped a gas leak in Menlo Park that prompted a nearby high school to shelter in place. The lockdown has since been lifted.

PG&E received a report at 12:24 p.m. of a third-party crew that was digging and struck a gas line near Willow Road and Ivy Drive, PG&E spokesman J.D. Guidi said.

A gas service representative arrived at the scene by 12:42 p.m. and smelled a strong odor of gas in the area, but crews could not immediately pinpoint the exact location where the line was struck, Guidi said.

All lanes of Willow Road were shut down in the area as of 1 p.m. while PG&E crews try to cap the leak, he said.

No injuries have been reported in the incident, a San Mateo County fire dispatcher said.

Mid-Peninsula High School, located nearby at 1340 Willow Road, was ordered to shelter in place until the leak is capped, a school employee said.

The employee, who declined to provide her name, said the campus is nearly empty though because students and teachers today are participating in the school's Community Service Day at various local organizations.

Menlo Park fire officials asked that students be picked up in front of 300 Constitution Drive in Menlo Park.