A vehicle in El Paso collided with an electric pole on Friday, March 5th, leading to roughly 2,300 residents losing power for hours. The driver of the vehicle was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Reports started coming in at around 6:55 a.m. from residents near Socorro Road regarding power outages in the area. At first, it was unclear what had caused the service interruption, but it was soon discovered that a car had slammed into an electric pole at 11800 Socorro Road.
El Paso Electric reports that the electric pole, located between Thompson Road and Brisa Del Valle, was downed in the crash, resulting in power loss for approximately 2,300 residents. By 10 a.m., power had been restored to roughly 1,000 residents, but repair efforts continued into the afternoon.
There is uncertainty as to why the driver left the roadway. Socorro Road was closed between Glorietta and Thompson Road to protect other drivers.
Although coming across a downed power line while driving is relatively rare, there are a few instances during which you will want to pay considerable attention to the situation.
For instance, power lines and electric poles can be damaged or knocked down during storms. Drivers on the road following a devastating storm should pay extra attention to the roadway to make sure there are no hidden lines or sagging cables.
The second type of situation which can put drivers in the path of a downed line is one like the crash seen in El Paso. When a car collides with an electric pole, even if that pole isn’t knocked to the ground, line, cables, or equipment may have been damaged or fallen to the ground or roadway.
If you’ve been involved in a collision with a power line, even if the smoke has cleared and the pole seems to still be standing, the ground around your vehicle could be electrically charged. While this can be incredibly frightening, knowing the right steps to take, and the ones not to take, can help you stay calm and stay safe.
Here is a guide to driving near downed power lines. You can download our guide to keep the tips handy and share it with friends to help them stay safe, too.
Source : KTSM