Dozens evacuated after truck takes down power lines in Modesto shopping center
A delivery truck crash Monday morning knocked out power to hundreds of customers and trapped dozens of people at a north Modesto shopping center after live wires hit the ground and caused a gas leak.
Around 9:55 a.m., the truck was traveling on Oakdale Road near Scenic Drive when it snagged communications cables, pulling down two Modesto Irrigation District power poles. Modesto Fire Department crews arrived to secure the scene, evacuate nearby businesses and assist people stranded in vehicles.
Capt. Joe Spani said about 15 people were stuck in their cars in the Starbucks drive-thru and another 20 were unable to leave the Starbucks until power could be shut off. One car had power lines draped over it.
Crews also evacuated We Donuts and neighboring businesses after the falling wires struck a gas line on an HVAC unit, causing a leak. Firefighters worked alongside MID, PG&E and the city’s Department of Environmental Resources to manage the gas hazard, downed wires and an oil spill from a damaged transformer.
According to MID spokesperson Melissa Williams, about 664 customers lost power. Service was rerouted to most within 45 minutes, but six customers — including Starbucks, Grocery Outlet, O’Reilly Auto Parts, and Superior Dry Cleaners — remained without electricity for nearly 12 hours. Power was fully restored by 9:30 p.m.
There were no injuries reported.
Spani said the truck had taken the same path before, and it’s unclear why the wires caught this time. The cause remains under investigation.
Authorities urged residents to always assume downed wires are live and extremely dangerous. “If you see a downed power line, stay at least 30 feet away and never try to move it,” Spani said. “If you’re in a vehicle with wires on it, stay inside and call 911.”
Customers can report or track outages at mid.org or by calling 209-526-7337.
This story was originally published July 1, 2025 at 4:33 PM.
