WARREN (WWJ) - Police have blocked off a major intersection in Warren after a truck brought down a powerline, causing a power outage to thousands of residents early Thursday morning.
Police are at the scene of 12 Mile and southbound Mound where authorities said a U-Haul snagged on powerline and brought the whole pole crashing down in what witnesses said was a major explosion.
WWJ's Charlie Langton spoke with Warren Police Commissioner Bill Dwyer about the incident which was reported several hours ago.
"Yeah, we received several calls at around 4:30 a.m. this morning regarding a U-Haul truck going south on Mound," Dwyer told Langton. "Apparently there was a pole with low-hanging wires on it. The U-Haul struck the wires, which took out the power for thousands of people."
The commissioner estimated between 2,000 and 4,000 DTE Energy customers are without power at this time.
Langton reported that the driver of the moving truck stopped at the scene and is cooperating with authorities. DTE has not yet provided an update on their outage map on when power maybe restored to the area.
"Avoid the area," Langton advised, stating he has seen cars come close to the tangle of wires on the ground despite the road being closed. "Police really have this area pretty much blocked because of this live powerline."
A Tim Horton's employee told Langton earlier that he saw the explosion light up the sky while driving into work between 4:30 a.m. and 5 a.m.
"I had no idea what it was and as I got closer to work, I saw all the power was out," he told Langton.
All southbound lanes are closed following the incident and drivers will be diverted off Mound and on to westbound 12 Mile.
