A dump truck accident cut power to 400 4-County Electric customers and canceled early afternoon classes at East Mississippi Community College’s Golden Triangle campus Monday.
Crews from 4-County Electric were dispatched near the west campus entrance just after 11:15 a.m. to replace a broken utility pole after it snapped, communications coordinator Brad Barr said.
Power was fully restored by 2:45 p.m.
EMCC Golden Triangle Vice President Paul Miller said construction on the entrance has been ongoing to widen and repave it.
“The contractor was here doing that work this morning and a dump truck that was bringing some field dirt and gravel was unloading and had its bed completely elevated,” Miller said. “The dump bed of the truck was high enough that it reached the power lines above it and the driver was unaware until it got caught and it pulled the power lines down.”
None of the cables were broken in the accident, but the snapped pole caused them to short, cutting off power to the entire campus as well as the Mayhew area and Tibbee community in Clay County.
When EMCC received word that it would take several hours to repair the damage, Miller said officials decided to call off classes for the remainder of the day. The power was restored in time for night classes to go on as scheduled.
No injuries were reported. First responders were not dispatched to the scene because the accident was limited to the site and not on a roadway.
Nathan Gregory covers city and county government for The Dispatch.
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