Briefly in the news

Caltrans workers accidentally caused a gas leak Wednesday morning at

the corner of South Coast Drive and San Leandro Lane in Costa Mesa,

officials said.

Workers accidentally punctured a hole in one of the gas lines about

10:15 a.m., said Chris Mockus, a senior engineer with Caltrans.

Nobody was injured, and there was no property damage. The leak was

stopped and sealed about noon, Mockus said. There was minor traffic

disruption as Costa Mesa police closed off the stretch of South Coast

Drive between Carmel Drive and Bear Street for about an hour and a half.

Residents living close by said they were asked to keep their windows

closed but were told there was no imminent danger.

“I could smell it right when it happened,” said Jim Munson, who lives

near the location of the leak. “But I guess it’s no big deal. They have

it under control.”