Construction work causes Hempstead gas leak

Hempstead Village police responded to a report of a gas leak at 9:40 a.m. Wednesday near Clarendon Road at Front Street, a village police dispatcher said.

A National Grid spokeswoman, Wendy Ladd, said the leak was caused when construction equipment struck a gas connection. It was repaired by 10:36 a.m. and caused no injuries, though it resulted in eight people being evacuated, she said.

Nassau County police said one of its patrol cars was also sent to assist.

An official at Hempstead Park Nursing Home, which is near the intersection of Clarendon and Front, said that firefighters had twice inspected the building but that evacuations were not necessary.