Almost 1,500 BC Hydro customers were left without power Tuesday night after a motor vehicle accident in Port Alberni.
The accident took place on Saunders Road in Beaver Creek just after 7 p.m. when a a grey 2007 GMC Sierra pickup collided with a power pole. The collision caused the power line to detach from the pole into the surrounding trees and bushes.
Port Alberni RCMP responded to the crash. Both the ambulance and Beaver Creek Fire Department were on scene prior to police arrival, but the pickup truck had been found abandoned. No one was seen in it or found nearby.
“There’s not much we can say about it at this point because nobody was in the vehicle,” said Port Alberni RCMP Cpl. Amelia Hayden. “Police couldn’t identify a driver, and there were no witnesses.”
The vehicle was eventually towed by the registered owner, according to Hayden.
The power was restored before 8 p.m. for many, but remained off for some areas of Beaver Creek until BC Hydro could get to the scene and re-string the fallen lines. The power was restored in all areas at 12:30 a.m., according to Ted Olynyk, BC Hydro community relations manager.
Anyone who may have witnessed or have information on this crash is asked to contact the Port Alberni RCMP at 250-723-2424 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.