An Eddyville man is facing charges after allegedly digging without proper authorization which resulted in disruptions to local utility services last week.
Lyon County Sheriff Brent White reported that on January 27 deputies and the Kuttawa Fire Department responded to a gas leak on Locust Street where they found 44-year-old Jimmy Oliver sitting on a skid steer. Deputies said Oliver stated that he had accidentally hit a gas line and then claimed he would return to the scene after retrieving his vehicle but deputies said he never did.
According to Sheriff White, Oliver had rented the excavation equipment but did not return it on time. On January 25, while clearing trees from a family member’s property, he allegedly damaged a Kentucky Utilities electric line, resulting in a temporary power outage. Then, on January 27, Oliver reportedly struck a city gas line without having a pre-authorized 811 dig ticket, causing an overnight disruption of service to several homes.
After failing to return to the scene, Sheriff White said the excavating equipment and a tandem axle trailer were seized and impounded. Oliver was reportedly located the next day and charged with endangering an underground facility by excavator and first-degree criminal mischief, a Class D felony. He is scheduled to appear in Lyon District Court on February 5th.
