February 16, 2026 - Hurst Street Center was the focus of emergency personnel on Sunday, February 16, 2026, immediately following a crash that resulted in a major natural gas leak.
According to Center Police Department (CPD), an unlicensed male juvenile driver was northbound in a grey 2020 Dodge Ram pickupo truck on Hurst Street sometime before 6am when he fell asleep and left the roadway before striking a business sign and then a gas meter, causing a major natural gas leak.
Once the driver escaped the vehicle at the scene, a Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy advised him to clear the immediate location to a safe zone away from the crash site.
The driver was not reported to have been injured and citations were issued. Residents in the immediate area were alerted as to the gas leak so that they could safely evacuate their homes.
CPD officers, Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies, Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers blocked Hurst Street to traffic at the intersection of Nacogdoches Street and Crawford Street. Although, several drivers attempted to bypass the officers to no avail and in some instances received citations.
Center Fire Department personnel were staged at the intersection of San Augustine Street and Wheeler Drive to prevent immediate access to the location.
All throughout the ordeal, a loud hissing sound could be heard emanating from the gas line as it released pressurized gas into the air. Once CenterPoint Energy personnel were on scene, Center Fire Department personnel assessed the situation in which the gas meter that was struck remained lodged beneath the truck involved in the crash.
After firemen gained assessed the damage to the meter beneath the truck, they were seen conferring with CenterPoint Energy personnel. It was apparent to all on scene when the firemen sealed the line as the loud hissing finally was silenced.
At that point, the truck was able to be dislodged from the business sign and gas meter by a wrecker and traffic returned to normal on Hurst Street by 9am.
February 15, 2026 - (Update): As of 9am the gas leak was stopped and the roadway was re-opened to traffic.
Center Police Department officers commenced with continuing their investigation of a single-vehicle crash that initially caused the gas line to rupture.
Hurst Street between Crawford Street and Nacogdoches Street in Center is shut down due to a major gas leak resulting from a vehicle crash at 6am Sunday, February 15, 2026.
Emergency responders are in scene. CenterPoint Energy arrived at 7:31am and are awaiting another crew to address the leak.
Driver’s are encouraged to take alternate routes until the roadway is re-opened.
