SOUTH HAVEN | A fast food restaurant was evacuated and seven people were treated for injuries suffered in a suspected lunchtime natural gas leak.

South Haven firefighters were called to McDonald's, 364 W. U.S. 6, at around 12:45 p.m., Assistant Fire Chief Ron Reed, Jr., said after employees reported smelling natural gas throughout the building.

"When I arrived it had a strong smell of natural gas," Reed said.

Crews quickly evacuated the restaurant and set up a triage unit in the parking lot at Dairy Queen next door. Reed said several people complained of headaches, itchy eyes and other natural-gas related symptoms. Ambulances from South Haven, Portage, Hobart and Porter hospital transported six patients to Porter Portage and Porter Valparaiso hospitals for minor injuries. One other person was treated at the scene.

Traffic was routed around the scene for about 30 minutes, with Porter County Sheriff's officers closing U.S. 6 between Capitol and McCool roads while South Haven Fire and NIPSCO crews investigated the cause of the suspected leak.

Shortly after 2 p.m. the restaurant was cleared to reopen after NIPSCO investigators found no leak. The incident remains under investigation.