A vehicle collided with an electrical pole in Newman, California, today, following an explosion that caused the pole to fall. The incident occurred at the intersection of W Stuhr Road and State Route 33 around 11:44 PM. Emergency services responded promptly to the scene, where they discovered one pole leaning and another lying on the ground.
Initial reports indicated that there were unknown injuries, prompting emergency medical services to request an ambulance. However, fire services later reported no injuries, leading to some confusion regarding the situation.
Due to the severity of the incident and the potential hazards posed by the downed electrical pole, authorities implemented a hard closure of the area. Traffic was diverted away from the intersection to ensure the safety of both emergency responders and the public. The closure affected both lanes of State Route 33 at W Stuhr Road.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company was notified and estimated a 30-minute arrival time to address the electrical issues caused by the pole explosion. As of 12:39 AM, road closures were expected to remain in effect until at least 12:00 PM, with additional closures at nearby intersections to facilitate the response and cleanup efforts.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area and seek alternative routes until the situation is resolved. Emergency crews continue to work diligently to restore safety and normal traffic flow in Newman, California.