Contractors cut gas line in Mount Airy

Contractors preparing to install curbs at an elementary school under construction in Mount Airy ruptured a 6-inch natural gas line yesterday, prompting school officials to evacuate nearby Mount Airy Middle School and send pupils home early.

Crews were doing grading work along the edge of an access road to the Parr's Ridge Elementary site, off Watersville Road, when the gas line ruptured about 11:30 a.m., school officials said.

Pupils were evacuated from Mount Airy Middle School and were escorted to Mount Airy Elementary School. Later, buses were summoned to take the middle-schoolers home.