Columbia Utilities: Power outage in southern Columbia caused by car hitting pole, knocking out substation
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Many Columbia residents on the southside of town were probably surprised as they sat down for Thanksgiving dinner, as a power outage hit the area around 6 p.m. and lasted about an hour.
Reports were indicating that many people affected were near Grindstone Parkway. Power returned to the area at 7:01 p.m.
City of Columbia Utilities spokesman Matt Nestor told ABC17 News in an email that a car hit a pole, knocking out a substation. Nestor said the city doesn't expect the outage to last long and that crews have been assigned to fix it.
Data from the city indicates that 4,227 customers were affected at its peak. Two crews were assigned, according to the city website. However, Columbia Water & Light wrote in a tweet that more than 5,000 customers were without power and that there was vehicular damage to a City of Columbia Water & Light facility.
Update: There is vehicular damage to a City if Columbia Water & Light facility, resulting in more than 5,000 customers being without electricity.
— Columbia Water&Light (@CoMoWaterLight) November 25, 2022
All standby crews are responding to get power restored as quickly as possible.
Streetlights and traffic signals were also affected. Police were initially seen at the intersection of Ponderosa Street and Grindstone Parkway. An ABC17 reporter saw Columbia police at several intersections along Grindstone Parkway with patrol car lights on.
Columbia Fire Chief Clayton Farr told ABC17 in an email that the Columbia Fire Department was called to the area of Grindstone Parkway and Ponderosa Street for a reported medical emergency.
"Our crew arrived soon after and began providing medical treatment for a male subject," the email said. "At this point we are unable to confirm the exact nature of the injuries. Columbia Police officers are in the area conducting an investigation and may have further information to release at some point."
The Columbia Police Department tweeted it was responding to a medical emergency in the area that led to the power outage.
(2) The incident has resulted in extensive electrical service disruption to multiple homes, businesses and roadway intersections which is causing substantial traffic interruptions. We ask that drivers exercise caution as traffic signals remain out.
— ColumbiaPD (@ColumbiaPD) November 25, 2022
