A traffic accident brought down electrical wires and caused an
outage for about 40 homes near Railroad and Tennant avenues, and
slowed down Union-Pacific traffic on the adjacent train tracks.
A traffic accident brought down electrical wires and caused an outage for about 40 homes near Railroad and Tennant avenues in Morgan Hill, and slowed down Union-Pacific traffic on the adjacent train tracks.
Police responded to the accident in which a mini-van crashed into a telephone pole at the intersection at 11:07 p.m. Monday.
A live power line broke off of the utility pole as a result of the crash. The driver was “trapped” inside the vehicle for about 30 minutes due to the live electrical lines surrounding it, Morgan Hill Police Sgt. Jerry Neumayer said. Police were unable to cross the road to contact the driver until about 11:40 p.m., after PG&E arrived at the scene to turn off the electricity and make repairs.
The driver, Billy Surber, 30 of Morgan Hill, was transported to Saint Louise Regional Hospital with complaints of pain. He was medically cleared and arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, Neumayer said.
PG&E continued repairing the damaged utility pole and broken wires until about 10 a.m. Tuesday, while police continued to keep Railroad Avenue closed to vehicle traffic. Union-Pacific railroad traffic was limited to one lane until the same time Tuesday morning, Neumayer said.
Electricity was out for 42 PG&E customers in the direct vicinity of the accident until midnight Tuesday, according to PG&E spokeswoman Jennifer Zerwer.
