Residents living in an eastern portion of Gainesville found themselves in the dark Sunday night after a hit and run driver plowed into a telephone guide wire on East Highway 82, snapping the cable and sending it into a set of bundled electric wires.
Gainesville Police spokesman Belva McClinton said the driver first struck a gas meter in the 2000 block of East U.S. Highway 82.
“The driver left the scene,” she noted. “Then he called back later and identified himself.”
McClinton said police cannot say if alcohol played a role in the incident.
“This was a young driver who may have just panicked and fled the scene,” she added.
Oncor Electric Delivery spokesman Sabrina Taylor said the collision caused a number of events which resulted in darkness for part of Gainesville.
“The foreign object caused the sparks many people saw. It then locked out the protective devices which are the line fuses. The fuses are like the fuses in your house. They stay out until we take care of the problem. Then your electricity comes back on,” she said.
The outage began where the accident occurred along Aspen Street and continued up and down several blocks of East Highway 82.
Oncor crews restored service about an hour and half after the incident began, Taylor noted.
Individuals shopping at Wal-Mart Supercenter were surprised when the giant store suddenly went dark.
“The lights flickered, came back on for a second and then went off. It was a little spooky. It was just pitch black in the parking lot. The only light you could see was the flasher on the security guard’s truck,” said Gainesville resident Vickie Dillon who was inside the store’s Subway restaurant when the black-out occurred.
Local News
Accident causes power outage
- Local News
-
-
Randy Travis arrested in Sanger
SANGER — Country singer Randy Travis was arrested Monday morning in Sanger on a charge of suspicion of public intoxication.
-
In Memory of Andy
Gainesville Middle School designated Monday as Andy’s Lakers Day, in honor of Andy Sandoval, a GMS seventh-grader, who recently died of a brain aneurysm.
-
GHS students take top place finishes at academic meet
Several Gainesville High School students had top place finishes at the Ryan High School academic meet on Saturday.
Sophomores Mark Clark and Alexander “Alex” Huerta lead the leap of GHS leopards competing. -
Gainesville woman hit by car
THACKERVILLE, OKLA. — A road collision early Sunday morning near Thackerville injured one female pedestrian, a Gainesville resident whose identification has not been released by officials.
-
Gainesville native fights for justice
IDABEL, Okla. — An Idabel, Okla. police officer — reeling from the death of his friend and fellow officer — is trying to beef up his state’s negligent homicide laws.
-
As deadline approaches, election day unclear
As the Texas primary election approaches, a muddle continues locally and statewide as to exactly when election day arrives.
-
House District 68 candidates present platforms
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second part of a two-part report.
Texas House District 68 representative opponents stressed their intentions to mend local problems via “rural values” during Thursday’s candidate forum -
Cooke County emerges out of drought
For residents in Cooke County, one of the most severe droughts in Texas history is no longer a concern — for the time being, anyway.
-
Souper Bowl a super success
The aroma of some dozen different homemade soups filled the air Sunday in the lunchroom at the First Christian Church in Gainesville.
-
A mother's Love
VALLEY VIEW — She’s a crusader for special needs children and their parents, but Valley View resident Wendi Tipps doesn’t think of herself as a hero.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Stranded Fishermen Rescued From Bay of Green Bay
Analyst: Outside Troops Won't Intervene in Syria
Murder Trial for Ex-U.Va. Lacrosse Player Begins
NY Giants Touch Down Victorious
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time
US, UK Pressure on Syria; More Homs Violence
Raw Video: Mass Killer Wants Medal, Freedom
Few Answers in Death of Sons of Missing Utah Mom
Court Strips Contador of Tour De France Title
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Raw Video: Deadly Helicopter Crash in Australia
Raw Video: Smoke, Purported Gunfire in Syria
Romney Latest Poll to Join Let-me-explain Club
Blast Kills Husband of Missing Utah Mom, 2 Boys
Obama: US, Israel Will Work Against Iran Nukes
NJ Museum Finds 19th Century Recording
Snow Causes Disruptions in Much of Europe
Clinton: Vetoed U.N. Syria Resolution 'travesty'
Romney Picks Up Decisive Win in Nevada Caucuses
