Power line lands on OXARC truck

By Matt Loveless

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Video

Summary

Driver spends some anxious moments waiting for the all-clear to exit his truck.

Story Published: Nov 5, 2009 at 8:42 AM PST

Story Updated: Nov 5, 2009 at 8:42 AM PST

LEWISTON - It could not have been worse timing, and it happened to perhaps one of the most hazardous trucks in town, but luckily, no one was injured.

At about 10:00 a.m. Wednesday in the 400 block of Preston in Lewiston a power line broke, and ended up on top of an OXARC truck, carrying tanks of a variety of flammable gases.

Police said it appeared a branch fell off a tree, likely knocking the line off it's utility pole, causing the live wire to come to rest on the truck, which was under the line.

The driver said he saw the "flailing" line in his mirrors, stopped, and said there were a few tense moments as he waited for clearance from fire officials to get out of his truck.

Multiple Avista trucks were called to the scene to cut power and clear the wire. The fire department cleared the scene by about 10:30 a.m.