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Power Outage in Grand Rapids Following Vehicle Crash

Utility crews working diligently to restore power after the incident.

News Summary

A vehicle crash in Grand Rapids caused significant power disruptions, affecting around 2,000 homes and businesses. The incident, which occurred at a key intersection, damaged a utility pole and downed power lines. City officials urged drivers to treat malfunctioning traffic signals as four-way stops. Crews worked diligently to restore power, with most customers getting electricity back by the afternoon, although some remained without service until later in the day.

Grand Rapids experienced significant power disruptions Wednesday morning following a vehicle crash that took place just before 8 a.m. at the intersection of Hall Street and Cesar E. Chavez Avenue. The collision resulted in one of the vehicles knocking down a utility pole, which subsequently brought down power lines and affected electricity supply for approximately 2,000 homes and businesses in the vicinity.

The power outage impacted street lights and traffic signals along a stretch of US-131 from MLK Jr. Street to Burton Street, creating traffic disruptions in the area. City officials advised drivers to treat non-functional traffic lights as four-way stops to mitigate potential accidents.

City crews and utility workers swiftly responded to the scene to assess the damage and initiate repairs. By 1 p.m. on the same day, a significant proportion of those affected had their electricity restored, although around 900 customers were still without power. Utility crews indicated that full restoration of service was expected to be completed by 4 p.m.

The incident also led to the closure of the intersection of Sheridan Avenue SW and Hall Street SW, compounding the traffic challenges for motorists in the area. City and utility teams continue to work diligently to address the situation and restore power as quickly and safely as possible.

The Consumers Energy outage map confirmed that over 2,000 customers were left without power due to the incident on Wednesday morning. As of the latest updates, significant efforts were being made to restore services with the onsite teams actively engaged in making necessary repairs.

Residents and businesses affected by the outage are encouraged to stay informed about the restoration process and exercise caution while navigating through areas with traffic disruptions. Additional updates regarding the restoration efforts are anticipated as crews work to bring the situation back to normal.