Suspect arrested in connection to Wesco crash

Jordan

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor.

ROTHBURY — A 33-year-old Rothbury man has been arrested in connection to an incident at the Wesco convenience store the night of April 8, in which a natural gas line was severed.

John David Jordan was charged with reckless driving and failure to report a property damage accident, said Lt. Craig Mast of the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office, and his bond was set at $1,500.

Grant Township Fire Department was dispatched to the scene on Oceana Drive at 9:24 p.m. to a report of a severed gas line caused by a reckless driver who fled. Both the Wesco store and the Rothbury Tavern across the road were evacuated, said Grant Township Fire Chief Roland Brooks.

Jordan allegedly hit two cement pillars and a natural gas meter, severing a two-inch pipe, Brooks said. There was a gas leak on the south side of the building, and Winston Road was closed on the east side, the chief said.

The wind played a key role in keeping residents safe, Brooks said. “If the wind had not been blowing, there would have been trouble,” he said. “The wind was blowing the fumes to the west.”

DTE Energy was called to the scene to shut off the gas, Brooks said. The fire department was dispatched to return to the scene at 10:30 p.m. when a leak was discovered below the shut-off, he said. Firefighters cleared the scene the second time shortly before midnight.

A two-count misdemeanor warrant for Jordan’s arrest was issued last week, said Oceana County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Jeffrey Kabot. It is alleged that Jordan caused $4,000 in damages, and he could be responsible for the businesses’ loss of income as well. Jordan dodged a drunk driving charge by running into his house during questioning by police the night of the incident, Kabot said. “He appeared to be under the influence and ran into his house and refused to come back out during questioning.”