Ammonia leak forces Ind. residents to flee homes

By CHARLES D. WILSON Associated Press Writer

TAYLORSVILLE, Ind. (AP) - A dangerous ammonia gas leak led to the evacuation of hundreds of people from their homes in a suburban Indiana town and sent at least three people to hospitals.

Bartholomew County Sheriff Mark Gorbett says the leak early Tuesday morning near Taylorsville was likely caused when three people tried to steal the anhydrous ammonia from a farm. He says the suspects likely intended to use it to make methamphetamine.

He says one of the suspects has been arrested and that investigators are searching for the other two.

Residents from all or part of three subdivisions were evacuated from their homes for a few hours, and part of highway U.S. 31 was shut down for four hours.

Taylorsville is 35 miles south of Indianapolis.