Tuttletown, CA – More than 50 PG&E customers went without lights for about five hours after a vehicle smashes into a power pole on Highway 49 in Tuolumne County.
The crash happened around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday near the Wilcox Ranch Road intersection. 41-year-old Stewart Vincent Deluz of Elk Grove was driving a 2006 Honda Accord within the stated 35 to 40 speed limit southbound on the highway, according to the CHP, when he allowed his car to veer off the roadway for unknown reasons. The vehicle struck a utility pole shearing it in half and bringing down live power lines. Traffic was reduced to one-lane for several hours as a PG&E crew worked to replace the power pole. Deluz was not hurt in the collision but it did cause a power outage in the area.
PG&E originally reported 115 customers were impacted by the outage. That number dropped around 11 a.m. to 55 who remain without electricity until just before 2 p.m.
This post was last modified on 05/03/2017 5:14 pm
Written by Tracey Petersen.
Sign up for our Breaking News Alerts and the myMotherLode.com Daily Newsletters by clicking here. Report breaking news, traffic or weather to our News Hotline (209) 532-6397. Send Mother Lode News Story photos to news@clarkebroadcasting.com.
For Caltrans traffic information for Highway’s 4, 49, 59, 108, and 120 plus a view of traffic on other Mother Lode roads and gas prices click on “Traffic” or keyword: traffic For an overview of extreme weather news stories go here.