SAN ANTONIO -- The St. Matthew Catholic Church was evacuated after a vehicle crashed into a gas line on Wednesday just before noon, officials say.
“We heard a large boom, and shook a little. Then, we started smelling gas and a noise, like a hissing noise,” said Alberto Espinosa.
Espinosa was inside St. Matthew Catholic Church when he though construction crews had dropped the toilet. Instead, a car had struck a gas main, right outside the church’s steps.
Marianne Willis said she was going to daily mass when her car jumped the curb.
“As soon as I put it in park, I kept pressing on the brake. Very frightening but it was truly a miracle.”
Bystanders said it was a miracle that Willis was able to escape the car and be ushered away to safety by police.
Firefighters evacuated 30-people inside the parish hall, chapel and sanctuary.
In the nearby St. Matthew’s school, administrators say students were never in any danger, as they remained in buildings not affected by the gas leak.
The 2-inch pipe was shut off by CPS Energy crews and the car removed.
The only casualty: the 12:05 mass.
Willis told authorities her brakes failed her, but her prayers did not... as no one was hurt.
“Oh man I was praying like there was no tomorrow,” said Willis.
