Report: Delivery truck driver clipped power lines near intersection of Chestnut Street and Catalina Drive just after noon
By Morgan Rothborne, Ashland.news
Electrical power is expected to be fully restored in the area near Asante Ashland Community Hospital at about 7 p.m., according to a post on the city of Ashland website shortly before 2 p.m. The repair of a power pole was still incomplete and some areas were without power but work was ongoing, Ashland Fire & Rescue Wildfire Division Chief Chris Chambers said in a 6 p.m. text message. As of 8:30 p.m., Chestnut Street was still blocked off at Maple Street and at least two equipment trucks were still on scene.
A report of downed power lines and a power outage near the intersection of Chestnut Street and Catalina Drive came in shortly after noon Friday, according the the PulsePoint app. The outage was caused by when a “delivery truck driver clipped a line and dragged down the pole and associated lines,” Chambers said.
Power lines went down and power remained out in the area west and south of the hospital, according to an outage map posted on the city website shortly before 2 p.m. Emergency crews were on scene while the city’s Electric Department staff worked to restore power.
Residents are asked to avoid the area while crews work to fix the problem, according to the 12:25 p.m. Everbridge message. Portions of Catalina Drive, Chestnut Street and Maple Street are blocked off to allow crews to make repairs.
The Ashland Electric Department is experiencing a high call volume and asks residents to refer to the department’s website for updates or contact [email protected] for more information, according to the department’s webpage. According to a 1:40 p.m. update, power has been restored in most of the outage area.
A call to Asante Ashland Community Hospital about its status was forwarded to its communications department, which went to voicemail.
This story will be updated as information becomes available. To sign up for Everbridge alerts, visit the city of Ashland’s webpage.
Email Ashland.news reporter Morgan Rothborne at [email protected].
