Gov. Jon Huntsman issued a statement Friday concerning natural gas systems in cars after learning of a near-fatal accident in Orem on Tuesday.

A Cedar Hills man was filling his natural-gas converted SUV at the Sinclair station at 573 N. 1500 West in Orem on Tuesday and did not realize there was a leak in his system. The system was mounted inside the passenger area of the car and filled the compartment with the gas. When the man got back into his car, he smelled the gas and found his four small children unconscious. While the accident could have been fatal, the children regained consciousness when exposed to outside air and were treated and released from the hospital.

"We are all grateful that the accident did not cause serious injury or worse. Unfortunately, some who seek a more economical means of transportation can fall prey to unscrupulous sales tactics," said Huntsman in a news release. "Natural gas vehicles are an important part of reducing air pollution and I encourage them. But when converting vehicles to compressed natural gas combustion system, it should be EPA certified and installed by a certified mechanic."

Drivers who own cars fueled by natural gas are qualified for a one-time tax credit, but the systems must be certified by the Environmental Protection Agency to receive the credit.

According to a news release from the governor's office, many people have turned to conversion kits to transform their car into a natural gas vehicle. However, not all of the kits are up to the correct standards and some can be harmful.

Cheryl Heying, director of the Utah Division of Air Quality, said the pressure required in the systems is a major issue when people do not use the right valves and hoses to connect the components. Car owners often like to tinker and believe they will be able to install the natural gas system on their own. Cost is a factor with the expensive conversion and owners in turn grab whatever hoses they may have in the garage or go online for the kits.

"People go online and buy the cheapest, not necessarily the best," she said.

Heying said the accident made officials more aware of the need to get together to ensure the systems are installed safely. Salt Lake Community College has already stepped up to provide classes for the training, and Heying said she hopes the public will now be more aware of the need for a safely installed system.

"I think it's an enormous wake-up call," she said. "Thank goodness no one was seriously hurt."

Eric Mabey, a certified inspector of the systems for Alternative Fuel and Power in Orem, said uncertified do-it-yourself kits can be dangerous because the products may be tainted. Some products online may be used or damaged, which could in turn be deadly for the buyer.

Mabey said a critical component of the systems is the cylinder that holds the gas. The cylinder cannot be dented or even scratched, or it may explode. Without the proper experience, a buyer may buy a dented cylinder online without knowing the hazards involved. Mabey said a cylinder with scratches from the ground or dents from being dropped from a 6-inch or 1-foot height may be all it takes for a disaster.

"All your materials have to really be up to standards," he said.

Another problem with drivers installing their own natural gas system can be their lack of experience with the device. Each manufacturer has their own specifications for how a system must be installed, and Mabey said the list of items for him to inspect is lengthy. Without the proper instruction, it is difficult for the average car owner to know what to do.

Mabey said some common mistakes people make when installing a system is to place the cylinder underneath the car or in the back of a truck. A cylinder in the back of a truck can be damaged by sunlight, and one underneath a car will get beat up by rocks and dirt. Mabey said it is also important to vent the cylinders to the outside of the car and keep the vents in an airtight location if they travel through the inside of the car.

"One of the biggest problems is they don't protect the cylinder and they don't vent them properly," he said.

Mabey said before he went through the certification process he did not realize how critical the cylinders were for safety. There are many intricacies that are hard to understand without training, but Mabey said there is nothing to worry about with a system if it is installed properly.

"It's actually as safe or safer than gasoline," he said.