Power was cut to more than 2,000 Sweet Home residents and a woman was taken to the hospital after a power line across Highway 20 was cut by construction equipment Thursday morning, June 9.
No one was seriously hurt, but one woman, whose name was not available, was taken to Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital. Bystanders said she apparently fell while jumping away from a vehicle in the Thriftway parking lot after the arcing power line fell on it. Another woman, a man and a dog were all forced to stay in vehicles parked in the Thriftway lot until the power could be disconnected.
The incident began at approximately 11:18 a.m. when equipment operated by K&R Plumbing, a private contractor repairing the city sewer system, cut an energized overhead power line In the 600 block of Main Street. City Manager Craig Martin said. Power was cut to businesses and traffic signals east of Pleasant Valley Road, including Thriftway.
Pacific Power and Light Spokeswoman Jan Mitchell said the company became aware of the problem at 11:15 a.m. and had most of the 2,043 customers back in service by 1:40 p.m.
For more on the story, including more photos and eyewitness accounts, see Wednesday’s newspaper.