[Update: Image Added] Power Outage Hits East Garberville After Runaway Truck Severs Utility Pole

Fire and PG&E responded to a power pole down in a hilly residential area of Maple Lane on the east side of Garberville this morning. [Photo by Lisa Music]

The incident occurred around 10 a.m. Residents reported hearing two loud explosion-like sounds at the time of the strike. Scanner traffic initially indicated the pole had fallen on a service truck with a person down in the roadway, but according to a source at the scene, the vehicle had no driver when it struck the pole.

No injuries were reported.

Garberville Fire Protection District, CHP, Cal Fire, City Ambulance, and PG&E all responded to the scene. Garberville Fire turned the investigation over to CHP after PG&E arrived and confirmed the downed lines had been de-energized and rendered safe.

Screenshot of PG&E Outage Map

As of publication, power remains out for customers on the east side of Garberville nearest the incident. PG&E had not provided an estimated time of restoration.

Update 2:52 p.m.: According to PG&E, power is estimated to be restored at 9 p.m. this evening.

Update: Power was restored, at least to some Garberville residents, around 7:20 p.m.

Update 4/16:

Power to east Garberville residents was lost for several hours after a Garberville Sanitary District utility truck reportedly rolled backwards down the hill, unoccupied, striking a PG&E pole before coming to a rest in a ditch.

A photo obtained by Redheaded Blackbelt shows a utility truck at the scene identified as belonging to the Garberville Sanitary District. Redheaded Blackbelt reached out to GSD for comment on the incident and to ask whether the district faces any liability as a result. No response had been received as of the time of publication. This story will be updated if a response is provided.