Truck vs. power pole leads to power outage for 1,700 Clallam PUD customers

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, July 25, 2017

PORT ANGELES — About 1,700 Clallam Public Utility District customers were without power after a log truck hit a power pole in west Port Angeles at about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Michael Howe, PUD spokesperson, said at about 3 p.m. that it could take up to eight hours for crews to restore electrical power to customers west of Port Angeles.

The crash blocked U.S. Highway 101 in both directions.

Port Angeles Police Sgt. Kevin Miller said the unloaded log truck was traveling westbound on Highway 101 near South Bean Road and was unable to negotiate traffic as traffic merged into one lane.

“It was trying to negotiate speeds with other cars and had to slam on its brakes to avoid colliding with other cars that were trying to negotiate to get into the one lane,” he said. “It was going too fast to negotiate a safe lane change.”

One lane was open to traffic at about 4:15 p.m.

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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsula dailynews.com.