Update: Power still out for 350 Shell Beach residents after semi-truck hits wires
Power will not be restored for 358 homes in Shell Beach until 11:30 p.m. Thursday evening after an 18-wheeler truck exiting Highway 101 got caught on a power line on Shell Beach Road near Spyglass Drive early Thursday morning. The incident caused one pole to break completely and initially knocked out power to most of Shell Beach.
Around 7 a.m. the semi-truck got caught on the cable and pulled down the pole. A small fire ensued, Cal Fire Pismo Beach Battalion Chief Paul Lee told the Tribune, but it was put out quickly. At least two other poles were strained by the weight of the fallen pole and at least one had splits at the base.
More than 1,000 homes in the area lost power because of the incident, and 358 homes still did not have power as of 5:50 p.m. Thursday, according to PG&E’s outage map. PG&E crews working at the scene hope to restore power to all homes by 11:30 p.m.
Lee said Shell Beach Road would be closed on both sides from Spyglass Drive to Coburn Lane until PG&E crews finish aerial work, which may not be for a few hours. The southbound exit at Spyglass Drive on Highway 101 remains closed. He said PG&E will likely be working through the night and into the early morning.
The driver of the semi-truck is safe and was not injured but was stuck inside the truck that was wrapped by the cable for a few hours. The driver has since been removed from the truck unharmed.
This story was originally published February 17, 2022 at 8:47 AM.
