A damaged hydro pole in Sarnia that was hit by a vehicle. March 2022.  (Photo by Bluewater Power)A damaged hydro pole in Sarnia that was hit by a vehicle. March 2022. (Photo by Bluewater Power)
Sarnia

Vehicle snaps hydro pole in half on Indian Road

Damage is estimated at upwards of $50,000 after a vehicle snapped a hydro pole in half on Indian Road over the weekend.

Bluewater Power crews responded to the collision between Germain Street and London Road.

Utility president and CEO Janice McMichael-Dennis said when they arrived on scene, half a pole was on the ground and the other half was still being maintained in the air.

"The wires were not actually down but the pole was basically cut in half from the impact of the vehicle, but the top half of the pole was suspended there, basically in midair, by the weight of the wires connected to further poles down the line."

McMichael-Dennis said around 15 customers were without power for around eight hours. She said there's still much work to be done and that crews are going back to the scene this week to finish the job.

"The goal then, when you immediately respond, is to get customers restored as safely and as quickly as possible. So, you make the temporary repairs and then go back later to do the job more fully."

McMichael-Dennis said the situation serves as an important safety reminder for motorists who strike a hydro pole when there are wires involved.

"The safest thing for you to do -- provided there's no other safety condition, no fire or what not -- is to stay in that vehicle until emergency vehicles, including Bluewater Power, respond."

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Photo by Zuzana Cizikova from Pexels.

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