Charges Dropped Against New York Man in Gas Leak Blasts

Authorities say they’ve dropped charges filed against a man accused of causing a gasoline leak that sparked explosions in an upstate New York village’s sewer system last month.

Washington County prosecutors tell local media that there’s insufficient evidence to convict 51-year-old Gary Vadnais of Gansevoort in the case.

Vadnais was charged with endangering the public health or welfare and leaving the scene of an accident after several explosions on Dec. 27 did extensive damage to streets and home homes in Fort Edward. Officials say the blasts were caused by fuel that leaked from a damaged gasoline pump at a convenience store in neighboring Hudson Falls.

Authorities had said Vadnais backed his car into the pump. Police are still trying to determine who was driving his car at the time.