Power restored after semi-truck downs powerline / LJWorld.com

Hundreds of Westar Energy customers in Douglas County were without power after a semi-truck pulled down a powerline pole at the intersection of 25th and Iowa Streets at 2:47 p.m. No injuries were reported.

Lawrence Police Sgt. Trent McKinley said the truck had just made a delivery to an area business, when a low-hanging utility wire became ensnared on the truck's roof. As the truck continued to drive, it pulled down the pole. McKinley said he did not believe the low-hanging utility line belonged to Westar.

As many as 782 customers were affected, according to the company website. It appeared several businesses near the downed powerline were without power. By 7:10 p.m., only seven customers were without power.

As of 6:15 p.m., workers had nearly completed replacing the pole, but fiber optics cable remained on the ground, which was the reason traffic remained blocked. A Westar representative said power would likely be restored between 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

xclusive85 1 year, 4 months ago

I was at Best Buy when this happened! The reaction in the store was priceless!

Coles_Law 1 year, 4 months ago

Traffic is being redirected around Iowa between 25th and 26th st. Southbound traffic is being directed to turn right and cut through the parking lot; northbound traffic is getting directed either way onto 26th. You cannot get back onto Iowa from 25th st. from the east (Redbud side).

Keith 1 year, 4 months ago

Was a squirrel driving the truck?

guess_again 1 year, 4 months ago

snap_pop_no_crackle 1 year, 4 months ago

That was my first thought!

larrytowngirl 1 year, 4 months ago

YEAHHH.. It's on!!! (7:01)

lionbacker 1 year, 4 months ago

I swear, there are more idiot drivers in this town, I was in the detour and cant tell you how many people just cant use some comon sense while driving. It was a simple detour, not a real complicated thing, If no one is coming, then go, it is ok, you dont have to wait for the westar employee to wave you on.

Andini 1 year, 4 months ago

It was a Budweiser truck. Ban them.

LogicMan 1 year, 4 months ago

I saw that heavy wire last weekend -- it was pulled across Iowa, but was relatively low on the poles. There was a large loop of excess wire on the pole on the west side of Iowa. I scratched my blue-green head, and thought they must know what they are doing!

Archive for Thursday, January 5, 2012