• Originally published May 19, 2009 at 6:09 p.m., updated May 19, 2009 at 10 p.m.

WHARTON - County officials ordered a mass evacuation of Iago early Tuesday after the driver of a vehicle believed to be involved in a burglary fled from deputies and struck a piece of oil field equipment.

"Once we were able to get it capped off, the evacuation ceased," said Lt. Daniel Marek of the Wharton County Sheriff's Office. "We found out it wasn't as bad a situation as we thought. We went to the side of caution."

At 4:41 a.m. Tuesday, the alarm sounded at the Amigos Convenient Store in Boling, Marek said.

A deputy was close to the area and responded in nine minutes, Marek said. The deputy interviewed witnesses who gave information about a possible vehicle.

The deputy then spotted a vehicle matching witnesses' descriptions on Farm-to-Market Road 1301 and tried to pull over the vehicle, but the driver refused to stop, Marek said.

The vehicle headed toward Iago and turned on Creekside Street, hitting a piece of oil field equipment, which discharged oil and salt water into the area, Marek said.

Those inside the vehicle fled on foot but were later arrested, Marek said.

Marek refused to release how many people were involved in the burglary or the name, age and city of residence of anyone who was arrested, saying the investigation is pending.

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