CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A Friday morning vehicle crash led to a propane leak, brief evacuations of some nearby homes and a closure of Highway 20.

The California Highway Patrol said the crash happened just before 8:30 a.m. on Highway 20 at Paradise Valley Boulevard.

A small green four-door sedan went off the highway and down an embankment next to the Paradise Cove subdivision, according to reports from the scene.

Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos said the crash resulted in no injuries, but the vehicle hit a residential propane tank and knocked it over.

The result was that the overturned tank was leaking liquid propane in the backyard of the residence, Beristianos said.

Northshore and Cal Fire firefighters used water streams to disburse a propane gas cloud away from the home. Beristianos said a winch had to be used to upright the tank so the value could be turned off.

He said residents in nearby homes were asked to evacuate while the work at the scene involving the propane tank was taking place.

At the same time, Highway 20 was closed for about an hour to reduce the chance of igniting the propane cloud, Beristianos said.

Beristianos said Northshore Fire sent two engines, a heavy rescue and a medic unit, and Cal Fire sent two engines, with a total of 13 personnel on scene.

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