May 24, 2012
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Hundreds of homes and businesses in Charleston are without power after an SUV slammed into a major power pole, according to officials with AEP.
Appalachian Power spokesperson Phil Moye tells WSAZ.com crews were forced to shut down Bigley Avenue to repair the lines and replace the pole.
Moye says an accident early Sunday morning left more than 1,000 people with no electricity. The pole was knocked off the sidewalk and into the roadway.
Dispatchers say an SUV hit the pole about 8 a.m. Sunday, causing lines to come crashing down. No one was hurt, but the SUV did have a small fire that started. The road was then blocked off.
The traffic light at Bigley Avenue and Spring Street is out along with several homes, churches and businesses in that part of the city.
Workers on the scene say CAMC Women and Children's hospital was also without power and had to be automatically switched over to their generator power supply.
Crews spent the morning assessing the damage and began replacing the pole just before 1 p.m.
Moye says crews are systematically rerouting power to affected homes, but with the cold weather and increased load, they can only turn on a limited number of homes at one time.
It's estimated at least 500 customers are still without power.
Moye says they anticipate having power restored by 6 p.m. Sunday.
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