Electricity has been restored in the Castle Hill district before 8 p.m. today. Traffic is back to normal on Upper Sims Way.
Earlier report:
PORT TOWNSEND — Both directions of Sims Way (state Highway 20) will be closed until further notice as workers clear power lines that were torn down when the top of a tractor trailer caught on a low-hanging line.
At around 5:30 a.m., a truck driven by George Roundtree of United Food Industries was southbound after making a delivery at the Port Townsend Co-op when the top of his truck caught a wire on the 2300 block of Sims Way.
The force of the impact snapped the pole off about three feet above ground and dragged the pole approximately 100 feet. Roundtree was not injured and was not found to be at fault for the accident although the investigation continues, according to East Jefferson Fire-Rescue spokesman Bill Beezley.
Aside from the snapped pole, a streetlight was knocked down.
Power was out in the area around the accident and was gradually being restored.
The Highway 20 Road House, located one block away from the pole, remained open through the outage and used its generator and served most of the breakfast menu, aside from toast.
Most of the businesses on Upper Sims Way were closed, with Union Bank providing limited service at its drive-up window.
Todd Courtney, who works for Potelco in Poulsbo was parked near the felled pole and said the pole would not be replaced. The felled pole routed wires between two other poles that will now be connected directly.
This was Courtney’s second recent visit to Port Townsend — he was part of the crew who replaced a fire pole early Sunday morning on Sheridan Avenue, which was knocked over by an allegedly drunken driver.
Puget Sound Energy is on the scene as well as representatives from Port Townsend Public Works, who were determining the location of existing water lines should digging occur.
Traffic is being diverted to Discovery Road. Mill Road also provides alternate access.
Grant Street School canceled its classes for the day because of the blackout.
How has the blackout affected you? Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
Grant Street School message:
We decided to close school for the day at 9:00 AM when the bus routes would have needed to start to get the students to school by 10:15 AM. Power was restored at 9:20 AM, but we did not have the means to get the routes restarted and the students back to school.
REMINDER: Tuesday, Sept. 28, is School Picture Day and Open House!!
