Driver’s Spilled Coffee Leads to Power Outage
A woman distracted by spilled coffee drove her pickup truck into a power pole early Tuesday, knocking out electricity to 3,900 residences and businesses in east Ventura and Montalvo and closing a road.
Police said Terrie Wadkins, 44, of Ventura was driving south on Ventura Boulevard about 8:15 a.m. when she spilled her coffee and veered off into a utility pole, shearing it off. The ensuing outage, which also knocked out traffic signals along Victoria Avenue and Johnson Drive, affected customers along Victoria and Montgomery avenues and Valentine and Bristol roads, said Nancy Williams, a spokeswoman for Southern California Edison.
Power was restored to all but two customers by 9:30 a.m., but Ventura Boulevard remained closed Tuesday afternoon between Seahawk Street and Victoria as crews put up a new pole, Williams said.
Ventura Police Officer Rick Murray said Wadkins suffered minor injuries.
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