Moving truck causes downtown power blackout

Power was knocked out on several blocks of downtown Modesto for about an hour after a U-Haul truck struck a utility pole Saturday afternoon.

The electricity went off about 3:30 p.m. after the moving truck hit the pole in the alley off Yosemite Boulevard and 14th Street. Authorities from Modesto fire and police who were on scene were unsure how large the blackout was, but traffic lights were all dark along 14th Street from north of Yosemite to Needham Street. Power loss was also reported at the State Theatre and Ralston Tower, where some people became trapped in an elevator.

Modesto Irrigation District Public Affairs Specialist Melissa Williams said the incident shut off power to about 690 customers, spanning several blocks downtown. The impact knocked an electrical wire down, which affected the 14th Street feeder, she said.

Modesto resident Jonathan Hisey, who lives in the apartments backing up to the alley, said he saw and heard the crash.

“It was a big flash with some smoke and noise,” he said.

Hisey said the driver of the truck fled the scene. Police interviewed several people present, and the investigation is ongoing.

Traffic lights were working again in the area about 4:30 p.m. Williams said it took about an hour to an hour and a half to get power back on for most customers. Firefighters rescued the people stuck in the Ralston Tower elevator after about two hours. No injuries were reported.

This story was originally published February 13, 2016 at 5:37 PM with the headline "Moving truck causes downtown power blackout."