County official: Not sure why employee was working near gas line that exploded in California

FRESNO, Calif. – A county official in California says Pacific Gas & Electric Co. wasn't notified that an employee would be driving a front-loader near a gas line that exploded because someone thought the driver would be working in a different area.

Fresno County Public Works Director Alan Weaver told the Fresno Bee (http://bit.ly/1DpqiMh) that he was not sure why the driver was working near the line. PG&E has said it was never notified of the work.

Such advance notice allows PG&E to map out gas lines. In this case, PG&E says the line had been marked earlier with two signs that were about 100 feet in each direction from where the driver was working. PG&E has said a vehicle damaged the pipeline.

Friday's explosion sent 11 people to the hospital, four of whom were in critical condition.

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Information from: The Fresno Bee, http://www.fresnobee.com