The Region - News from Oct. 4, 1985

An electrical failure caused the 911 emergency number at the downtown California Highway Patrol headquarter’s to shut down, making 3,602 freeway call-boxes in the Los Angeles area useless for nearly two hours, authorities said. Apparently a short circuit in an air conditioner affected the communications system, causing the emergency phone system to fail, said Louise Pankey, a communication manager at the Vermont Avenue CHP station. Patrolling officers were instructed to make an inspection of every car spotted on the side of the freeway to check for stranded motorists until the system was restored.