Brooklyn Life

Manhattan Beach Residents Lose Power as Truck Takes Down Telephone Poles

A tractor-trailer crashed into multiple telephone poles and ripped down power lines in Manhattan Beach on Monday morning, leaving hundreds of people without electricity.

Hundreds of people were without power Monday after a tractor-trailer took out several telephone poles in Manhattan Beach. Photo by Lloyd Mitchell

by Brooklyn Paper

05/01/2024 0

By Lloyd Mitchell & Kirstyn Brendlen

A tractor-trailer crashed into multiple telephone poles and ripped down power lines in Manhattan Beach on Monday morning, leaving hundreds of people without electricity.

The details of the crash were not immediately clear, but Con Edison representative Alan Drury said the crash occurred at 1315 Oriental Boulevard around 10:30 a.m. on April 29. The truck — which appeared to have fled the scene — tore down eight telephone poles and at least two transformers, leaving the street littered with wires and debris.

One downed transformer caught fire, according to the FDNY, and leaked hazardous polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, into the roadway, drawing a response from 60 firefighters and paramedics. The fire was brought under control by 12:35 p.m. and one person was treated for minor injuries on the scene.

streetview showing downed power lines — Photo by Lloyd Mitchell

“This is insane and crazy, the truck was backing up, I heard a loud crash and suddenly saw wires everywhere,” said local resident Olga Ivanovich.

The crash left 382 households across four blocks without electricity. Con Edison crews were on the scene and hoped to restore power overnight.

“This is wild, it is a perception matter,” a Con Ed rep told Brooklyn Paper by phone. “There are so many wires down, we’ll have to keep crews here overnight.”

Power was restored as of Tuesday morning, Con Edison representative Alan Drury later confirmed to Brooklyn Paper.

The investigation remains ongoing, police said Tuesday. The identity of the driver is still unknown.

Last spring, a tractor-trailer snagged a utility wire and pulled down a telephone pole in nearly the same location, at the corner of Oriental Boulevard and Langham Street, according to CBS News.