Jul 24, 2008

Trash truck takes out power lines

More than 200 PG&E customers lose power

By Mark Abramson / Daily News Staff Writer

A garbage truck took out more than just the trash on Regent Street in Redwood City on Wednesday.

The Allied Waste Management truck struck a pole around 11 a.m., knocking out power to 230 PG&E customers, company spokesman Joe Molica said.

"Our crews responded immediately to make sure the situation was safe. We were able to restore power to 144 of our customers at 11:52 a.m.," Molica said. "There was fairly extensive damage."

Officials expected to completely restore power by midnight.

The incident left a tangled mess of wires on the Allied truck and the side of the road. Police and fire department officials cordoned off part of the 1400 block of Regent Street with red tape to keep people back from the live wires.

Residents in 14 buildings were told to stay inside or evacuate for safety reasons, Redwood City Fire Battalion Chief Steve Cavallero said. Five fire engines, one truck, three battalion chiefs and five police officers responded to the crash.

The American Red Cross was called to help at least two apartment residents find temporary shelter, Cavallero said.

Residents reported that their power flickered on and off.

"I heard a sizzle," Christlyn Bathurst said.
John Tamaresis was having breakfast when he heard a loud bang outside.

"First there was a sound like a collision. I saw some sort of cloud of smoke," Tamaresis recalled. "I was thinking, 'I better get up and see what is going on.'"



E-mail Mark Abramson at mabramson@dailynewsgroup.com.