Bristol Crash Knocks Out Power, Snarls Morning Traffic

Well, what a start to Thursday morning for folks in Bristol, huh? Imagine waking up, or perhaps being jolted awake, to the sound of a serious thud, only to find your lights stubbornly refusing to flick on. That’s exactly what hundreds of residents experienced after an early morning accident took down a utility pole, leaving a significant chunk of the city in the dark and causing quite the commotion.

The whole thing unfolded rather quickly, sometime around 3:00 AM, near the intersection of Main Street and Federal Street. From what we're hearing, a single vehicle, reportedly a sedan, somehow veered off the road and collided directly with a utility pole. You know, it's one of those unexpected hiccups that just throws a wrench into everyone's morning routine, especially when it involves power lines.

As you can probably guess, the impact wasn't kind to the pole. It snapped clean, sending live wires cascading across the roadway – a seriously dangerous situation, by any measure. Police were on the scene in a flash, cordoning off the area to ensure public safety and divert traffic. Meanwhile, emergency medical services were also dispatched, though initial reports suggest the driver sustained only minor injuries, thankfully, which is a small blessing considering the severity of the crash.

The immediate aftermath saw power go out for an estimated 800 customers, primarily in the northern quadrant of Bristol. Think about it: no coffee, no charging your phone, no working internet – a real inconvenience in today's world. Utility crews from Eversource were quick to arrive, assessing the extensive damage and immediately beginning the arduous task of repairing and replacing the pole. They're the unsung heroes in these situations, working tirelessly with live wires, often in less-than-ideal conditions.

Local authorities have advised commuters to avoid the area around Main and Federal Streets for the foreseeable future, as repairs are expected to take several hours. Traffic is being rerouted, and while it might add a few minutes to your commute, it's crucial for everyone's safety while those crews do their critical work. It’s certainly a reminder of how quickly our modern conveniences can be disrupted by just one unforeseen incident.

While the investigation into the exact cause of the crash is still underway, police are urging anyone who might have witnessed the incident, or perhaps has relevant dashcam footage, to come forward. For now, residents are encouraged to check Eversource's outage map for the latest restoration updates and to stay clear of any downed lines. Let's hope power is fully restored soon, so everyone can get back to their normal routines.