09/18/2026
On 9/18/2026 at approximately 12:22 pm, Chief Leegaard and Sgt Conley were patrolling near the intersection of E 4th Street and N. Dakota Street. During their patrol they found a vehicle that crashed into an exterior wall of an apartment complex in the 400 block of E. 4th Street and was partially intruded into the building. The vehicle struck a natural gas meter and sheared it off and created a large natural gas leak. Chief Leegaard tried to contact the female driver, but she was unconscious and the vehicle was locked. Sgt Conley broke the passenger side window out using his baton, unlocked the vehicle and turned it off. Chief Leegaard contacted the female driver, who gained consciousness but than began to actively seize. While Chief Leegaard tended to the driver, Sgt Conley started to get the other residents out of the area due to the danger of fire or explosion from the uncontained natural gas leak directly underneath the vehicle. LCSO Deputy G. Welsh arrived on scene a short time later and began to assist with evacuating residents. Chief Leegaard and Sgt. Conley were able to get the female driver out of the vehicle and into the ambulance. Sgt Conley and Canton PD Officers Lininger and Valdez created a perimeter around the gas leak while actively evacuating area residents. Two other females were in the apartment that was hit by the vehicle, but no injuries were reported at this time. The female was transported to Sanford Canton Inwood to receive medical treatment and be evaluated. Her injuries were minor.
The Canton Police Department would like to thank the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, the Canton Fire Department, Canton Inwood EMS, MidAmerican Energy and AJ’s Towing for assisting in this situation.
Great decision making and quick response time made what could have been a very deadly situation end quickly and with no serious injuries.
