Tractor-trailer takes out power lines in city
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on January 4, 2017 9:57 AM
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News-Argus/SETH COMBS
Duke Energy's construction and maintenance supervisor, Fred Cox, inspects a series of downed power lines on North William Street Tuesday afternoon. The lines where pulled over by an 18-wheeler.
A tractor trailer turning into the parking lot behind a business at 401 N. William St. ensnared some power lines on the rig and pulled down several lines and poles Tuesday.
The accident, which happened around noon, knocked out power in the immediate surrounding area and shut down three city blocks for hours.
Power lines came crashing down around two cars traveling toward East Ash Street on North William Street, blocking their path.
A woman in a white Ford Fiesta screamed for help, and Danielle Dever, an employee at Professional Data Management, Inc., at 309 N. William St., helped pull her from the car.
Dever said herself and another person guided Gloria Lynn Cook out of her Ford through the back of her car, away from where the lines had fallen around her, and lifted her over the downed lines to safety.
According to an accident report, nobody was injured because of the accident, but several live power lines fell on Cook's Ford and caused "major burns."
Another Professional Data Management employee, Theresa Makdad, said she looked out toward the 200 block of East Oak Street, which intersects North William Street, and saw the power lines popping overhead as the tractor trailer pulled them down.
"I don't think he saw the lines," Makdad said.
No charges have been filed at this time against the driver of the tractor trailer, Thomas Lionel Chambliss.